Kinship Structure of the Eskimo Culture, Essay Example

Eskimo kinship is one of six major kinship systems identified by Lewis Henry Morgan in Systems of Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Family (1871).  Also referred to as lineal kinship, the Eskimo kinship system makes no distinction between matrilineal, descended from the mother, and patrilineal, descended from the father, relatives.  Emphasis is placed on the nuclear family, mother, father, brother, sister, and relatives are identified based on kinship distance.  Basically, the closer the relative, the more distinguished and important the relative is.  Parents sister and brothers are classified by gender, as aunts and uncles and no association to a specific parent is made.  Children of aunts and uncles are categorized simply as cousins.  Parentage of cousins is relatively insignificant in Eskimo kinship.  Relatives are classified by four categories: gender, generation, lineal relatives, and collateral relatives (related by blood but distantly).

The nuclear family is considered an independent economic and social group.  Though men and women from different families may work alongside each other, the goal is to provide for one’s own nuclear family.  Resources are managed along the same lines, the most usually going to the ones who perform the most work and benefiting their respective family.  This family structure is beneficial in a mobile society, such as the Eskimo, and creates a strong individual identity in a person.  In terms of marriage, it means that sons and daughters detach themselves in large part from their original homes and prioritize a new allegiance to each other.