A socially approved sexual and economic union, usually between a man and a woman, that is presumed, both by the couple and by others, to be more or less permanent, and that subsumes reciprocal rights and obligations between the two spouses and their future children.
A substantial gift of goods or money given to the bride’s kin by the groom or his kin at or before the marriage. Also called bride wealth.
Work performed by the groom for his bride’s family for a variable length of time either before or after the marriage.
A substantial transfer of goods or money from the bride’s family to the bride.
Goods given by the groom’s kin to the bride (or her father, who passes most of them to her) at or before her marriage.
Prohibition of sexual intercourse or marriage between mother and son, father and daughter, and brother and sister; often extends to other relatives.
The rule specifying marriage to a person from outside one’s own group (kin or community).
The rule specifying marriage to a person within one’s own group (kin, caste, community).
Children of siblings of the opposite sex. One’s cross-cousins are the father’s sisters’ children and mother’s brothers’ children.
Children of siblings of the same sex. One’s parallel cousins are the father’s brothers’ children and the mother’s sisters’ children.
A custom whereby a man is obliged to marry his deceased brother’s wife.
A custom whereby a woman is obliged to marry her deceased sister’s husband.
Marriage between only one man and only one woman at a time.
Plural marriage; one individual is married to more than one spouse simultaneously. Polygyny and polyandry are types of polygamy.
The marriage of one man to more than one woman at a time.
The marriage of one woman to more than one man at a time.
The marriage of a man to two or more sisters at the same time.
Marriage of a man to two or more women who are not sisters.
Prohibition of sexual intercourse between a couple for a period of time after the birth of their child.
The marriage of a woman to two or more brothers at the same time.
Marriage of a woman to two or more men who are not brothers.
A social and economic unit consisting minimally of a parent and a child.
A family consisting of a married couple and their young children.
A family unit consisting of one monogamous (nuclear) family, or one polygynous or one polyandrous family.
A family consisting of two or more single-parent, monogamous, polygynous, or polyandrous families linked by a blood tie.