Human FamiliesThis detailed study maps the variations in family systems throughout the world, focusing on the ways families interact with their societies. Tracing the developmental cycle of families in a wide range of times and places, Stevan Harrell shows how family members in different societies must cooperate to perform various activities and thus organize themselves in particular ways.Within six major divisions, the book describes families in nomadic bands, traditional African societies, Polynesian and Micronesian societies, native societies of the Pacific Northwest coast, preindustrial class societies, and modern industrial societies. Within each group, the author's copious examples demonstrate the variation from one family system to another. His case studies are clearly illustrated with a unique set of diagrams that allow comparison of complex groups and of family processes extending over a generation. Scholars and advanced students alike will find this ambitious book an invaluable resource. |
Contents
The Family Developmental Cycle | 7 |
Explaining Family Variation | 26 |
Children in an Mbuti Camp 3355 | 53 |
Copyright | |
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adult Africa Anuta band societies bridewealth brothers C-cluster C-cluster societies cattle chief child cluster Coast Salish complex societies cooperation couple critiques cultural daughters dependent descent groups developmental cycle division of labor domestic dowry economic example extended family family activities family group family members family organization family systems father female Figure Haisla Halkomelem high status household head husband important individual inheritance islands Japan joint family Kimbu kinds kinship Kwakwaka'wakw Lamotrek land lineage living male marriage married married couples matrilineal matrilocal residence Mbuti mother Northwest Coast nuclear family O-cluster Olson parents patrilocal pattern political Polyandry polygynous Polynesian population potlatches prestige sphere processing procuring productive public sphere rank relationship relatives residence ritual Salish seems sexual share siblings small-family sons spouses subsistence resources tion Tlingit Tonga transmission Tsimshian unit University Press usually uxorilocal variation village wealth wife wives woman women Yurok