What is unilineal descent and with which modes of livelihood is ...

[chads108]

What is unilineal descent and with which modes of livelihood is it most associated? Discuss an ethnographic example.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe two of the ways a mode of livelihood affects the kinship system within it.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[vickyvicksss]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: The ideal answer will include:
1. Unilineal descent is the tracing of descent through one parent.
2. It can be matrilineal or patrilineal.
3. It is found most often in the pastoralist, horticulture, and agriculture modes.
4. The example of naming in Hong Kong illustrates the pattern.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: The ideal answer will include:
1. Bilineal descent makes sense in foraging societies because it provides flexibility and reflects fluid social arrangements.
2. Unilineal descent makes sense in modes where there is a fixed resource basehorticulture, pastoralism, and agriculturebecause it provides stability.
3. Most matrilineal societies are horticulturalists, the mode in which women often have significant responsibility.
4. Bilineal descent is associated with smaller kinship groups and therefore enables the flexibility and spatial mobility associated with industrial/digital economy societies.