Discuss the system of descent and inheritance, and explain why such systems are important in societies

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Virtually all forms of marriage establish a system of descent so that kinship can be determined and inheritance rights established. In preindustrial societies, kinship is usually traced through one parent (unilineally). The most common pattern of unilineal descent is patrilineal descent—a system of tracing descent through the father's side of the family. Patrilineal systems are set up in such a manner that a legitimate son inherits his father's property and sometimes his position upon the father's death. In nations such as India, where boys are seen as permanent patrilineal family members, girls are seen as only temporary family members, girls tend to considered more expendable than boys. Even when the less common pattern of matrilineal descent—a system of tracing descent through the mother's side of the family—women may not control property. By contrast, kinship in industrial societies is usually traced through both parents (bilineally). The most common form is bilateral descent—a system of tracing descent through both the mother's and father's sides of the family. This pattern is used in the United States for the purpose of determining kinship and inheritance rights; however, children typically take the father's last name.