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Definition
Clan is the seat of political authority
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Thinkers
Kinship Studies in India – Irawati Karve
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Definition
Biological anthropology studies human evolution, heredity, variation and adaptation using scientific methods, while recognising the influence of culture on biology.
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Example / case study
Lactase persistence → long-term milk consumption in pastoral populations → selection for lactose tolerance. Thus, biological anthropology connects genetic evolution with culturally created dietary practices. 2. Archaeological Anthropology — Material Science + Human Meaning Helps estimate prevalence of inherited disorders.
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Thinkers
Claude Lévi-Strauss: Used genealogical/kinship data to develop Alliance Theory, focusing on marriage and exchange between lineages. India: S.C. Roy documented Oraon genealogies; Irawati Karve used genealogical mapping to study village kinship and exogamy in Maharashtra.
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Definition
A key feature distinguishing tribes from bands is the presence of pan-tribal sodality (associational organisation).
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Thinkers
Radcliffe-Brown (Structural Functionalism): Opposed Kroeber; Argued that terminology and behaviour are closely linked. Kinship Studies in India – Irawati Karve E.B. Tylor — culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom; unilinear evolution and survivals.
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Definition
Principles and types of descent
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Thinkers
A.R. Radcliffe-Brown — structural-functionalism: institutions function like organs to maintain social structure. Study by Evans-Pritchard among Nuer (South Sudan)
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Definition
Situating a person’s position in the kinship structure
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Example / case study
Descent may be traced from either parent
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Thinkers
A.R. Radcliffe-Brown — structural-functionalism: institutions function like organs to maintain social structure.
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Definition
Double descent (double unilineal descent) is a kinship system in which individuals inherit rights and group membership through two lines — typically both patrilineal and matrilineal — for different purposes such as land, ritual office or property.
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Example / case study
Khairlanji massacre (Maharashtra, 2006). Surinder Jodhka (Ad-Dharmis, Punjab) → As Dalits gained autonomy, they asserted control over women, started teasing and taunting women of U caste. Patriarchal Bargaining (Deniz Kandiyoti) → Upper caste women themselves internalize patriarchy, enforce norms for status. Dalit Women’s Double disadvantage(Leela Dube) Gail Omvedt by Gail Omvedt → suffer both caste and gender discrimination.(dalit + women).
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Thinkers
A.R. Radcliffe-Brown — analysed descent principles in African kinship systems. Fortes — lineage theory and unilineal descent groups.
Short notes for this Anthropology syllabus heading.