Bridewealth and Descent Rules - Essay Example

Bridewealth describes compensation given to the family of the bride by the groom or his kin upon marriage. For cultures that embrace bridewealth, divorce is only recognized once the family of the groom acknowledges the return of the bridewealth (Callan, Street & Underdown, 2013). A bridewealth is usually a symbolic act that signifies the friendship between intermarrying families (Scupin, 2008). It also acts as a pledge that the bride will be fairly treated and provided for in her new matrimonial home.

High bridewealth ensures that both the groom and the bride are aware of their respective tasks and responsibilities in the marriage and that they take these responsibilities seriously. This creates a basis for a stable marriage between the parties involved. Bridewealth is not contingent on the stability of marriages within the society, but rather, on the hopes a given society has for the state of future marriages. High bridewealth will ensure that the bride and the groom are serious about their marriage and have considered the repercussions of their choice.

Descent rules describe the rules with which members of a social group can claim common ancestry (Scupin, 2008). Descent groups can either be patrilineal, matrilineal, or double descent. In the patrilineal descent group, all children automatically join the family of their father, and the children of the men in this group will automatically join the group as well. In matrilineal descent groups, all children join their mother’s family, and all the children of the women in the group will automatically join the group (Scupin, 2008).

In patrilineal groups, the man’s position as the breadwinner, husband, and father is the chief basis of male authority. Both men and women play important roles in the family units resulting in very stable marriages. In a matrilineal society, the male siblings of the women are the source of male authority. Matrilineal groups deny the husband rights over the children, and most responsibilities in the group belong to the wife’s brother rather than the husband (Callan, Street & Underdown, 2013).

Generally, matrilineal groups grant men little power and can at times es do away with the presence of fathers and husbands completely. This leads to marriages that are less stable than in any other group. Bridewealth and descent rules lay down the framework that determines what is expected from all parties in a marriage. These two factors have a lot of influence on marriage stability and how society approaches marriages. By understanding these two issues, one can comprehend how a given society operates.