Ant 358 Propositions

ANT 358 Social Anthropology Dr. D. Wills

Some Debatable Propositions (generalizations)

1. the old ones complain
2. there are sources of conflict for every society
3. the females bear young
4. the males inseminate them
5. otherwise, roles are largely arbitrary
6. male dominance
7. some want to control the others
8. increasing age tends to confer authority
9. small children are the same everywhere
10. family is an important source of continuity and change

Humans don't come in neat types, so it is hard to generalize about them.

Groups in Society

Ordering principles/distinctions:
1. kin/non-kin
2. age
3. sex/gender
These are universal and ascriptive. The following are not.
4. status
5. association
a. residence
b. religion
c. secret society
d. work group
e. voluntary, etc.
6. ethnic
They can be formalized, institutionalized, or not.

Distinguish between social institutions, social relations, social behavior, and social roles.