Questions
- Though lineage and descent are often used interchangeably, are they interrelated? (10 Marks)
- Patriarchy is not a social fact but a product of socialisation. Comment.
(10 Marks)
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Model Structures
Q1. Though lineage and descent are often used interchangeably, are they interrelated? (10 Marks)
Introduction
- Define lineage and descent
- Lineage is understood as a 'principle' on the basis of which alignment or inheritance is chosen in a linear fashion. Most common forms of which are — patrilineage and matrilineage.
- Descent (called Vansha in traditional Indian system) is the principle whereby a person is socially affiliated with the group of his or her parents, grandparents and so on.
Main Body
- Descent is the relationship between an individual and their ancestors through blood (consanguinity), marriage (affinity), or adoption.
- That is, descent is a way of tracing one‘s ancestors
- Lineage is group of people who share a common descent
- Descent and lineage are inter-related in that, In the case of lineage, one can trace one's ancestors whereas in case of descent one often fails to trace one's ancestors and the ancestor could be substituted by a mythical one symbolising the origin of one's descent.
- Types of descent:
- Ambilineal Descent: Tracing an individual‘s descent either through the father or mother as chosen by the individual.
- Bilateral Descent: Tracing an individual‘s descent simultaneously through the father‘s and mother‘s line, where all ancestors by blood (consanguinity) are considered related.
- Bilineal Descent: Tracing an individual‘s descent through the father‘s male line and the mother‘s female line.
- Unilineal Descent: Tracing an individual‘s descent either through the father (patrilineal) or mother (matrilineal), but never both.
- Matrilineal Descent: Tracing descent through the mother‘s side of the family
- Patrilineal Descent: Tracing descent through the father‘s side of the family.
- Importance of tracing one’s lineage:
- Property rights
- For religious purposes.
Conclusion
- Tracing one‘s lineage has come under the influence of modernity. There are DNA testing companies who can trace a person‘s lineage and ethnicity. This shows the relevance of concepts of lineage and descent.
Q2. Patriarchy is not a social fact but a product of socialisation. Comment. (10 Marks)
Introduction
- Sylvia Walby defined patriarchy as “a system of social structure and practices in which men dominate, oppress and exploit women”. At the level of family, the sexuality of women is under the control of her brothers and father and it is considered their responsibility.
Main Body
- Patriarchy is a social structure in which men exercise authority and dominance. There is control over women’s production, reproduction, and inheritance.
- As a result, gender binaries are created, and gender roles and relations are based on power and inequality.
- Traditional gender roles cast men as strong, decisive, rational and protective while women are seen as emotional, irrational, weak, nurturing and submissive. This is perpetuated through the process of socialization in which social norms, customs and ideologies are inherited and disseminated.
- Leela Dubey (2009) explained the same from observational studies of brothers in South Asian countries. The patriarchal norms are reinforced through practice which in turn perpetuates the values of patriarchy. So the socialization process reinforces the inequality of gender in a patriarchal society.
Role of Adults
- Jefri Rubin and his co-workers in a research in 1974 found that parents behave with their children based on their gender role traits.
- According to parents' stereotype expectations from sons and daughters often are shown that gender roles socialization of children are simplified using toys and clichés clothes choice.
- In another way, parents enhance the gender roles of their children by choosing methods of children's overall participation in doing house work. For example girls are used for works such as cleaning up, setting the table and washing and boys are used in objects transporting, gardening etc
- So the adults as a socialisation factor, transfer gender inequality to their children and the patriarchy established in society.
Role of Media
- In another way, mass media such as books, magazines, radio, TV, internet, cinema etc. have an essential role in socialisation. In most media, women should act in a separate way in comparison to men.
- Usually in children's stories, men perform amazing activities and active roles while girls are generally limited and act passive.
- Usually in children's stories, men perform amazing activities and active roles while girls are generally limited and act passive.
Role of friends
School and friends as socialisation agents also directly and indirectly produce and reproduce gender roles in children and enhance patriarchy.
Patriarchy is a social fact
- According to Durkheim, a social fact consists of collective thoughts and shared expectations that influence individual actions. Patriarchy is a social fact:
- It is external to the individual.
- It exercises constraints on the individual.
- It has a generalized perception that is understood by all individuals in the same manner.
- It is independent of the will of the individual.
Conclusion
- Leela Dubey observed that in matrilineal societies, there is greater tolerance and less control over female sexuality. It is important to note that there is no absence of control but less control. Thus, patriarchy can be considered both a social fact and a product of socialization.
