The most important Categories of Kinship – Essay

Kinship categories are constructed on the degree of relation. There are some kin who are very close, and there are others who are remote.

Closeness or remoteness is recognized on different occasions. For in­stance, on the occasion of marriage, right from close kin to the remote kin are invited. However, the recognition depends on the economic status of a person. The kin who have some functions to perform on some specific occasions are considered close kin.

For instance, in a pa­trilineal society, the bride is brought to the marriage pandal by her mother’s brother, mama. It is his responsibility. In his presence, no other person is allowed to do this.

Again, in a patriarchal society, it is the father’s daughter’s son who leads the funeral procession. Thus, there are close kin who have different functions to perform on differ­ent occasions. Anthropologists have categorized varying affines and agnates in terms of close kin. These are: (i) primary kin, (ii) secondary kin, and (iii) tertiary kin.

(i) Primary Kin:

Primary kin are those who belong to blood or marital group. The re­lations of these kin are primary. Among these are included brother, sister, and collaterals. Among the marital kin are included mother’s brother, mother’s sister and mother’s parents.

(ii) Secondary Kin:

Secondary kin are those who are related as primary kin to an individ­ual. For instance, ego’s wife is primary kin to ego but wife’s brother who is primary to wife is secondary to ego. Father’s brother who is primary to father is secondary to ego.

(iii) Tertiary Kin:

Tertiary kin are those who are secondary kin to the ego’s primary kin. For instance, brother’s son is secondary kin and brother’s son’s son who is secondary to him is tertiary kin.