(Nowak & Laird, 2010, 3.7) While bilateral descents are relationship passed through both mother and father. Most forager societies like the San, used the bilateral kinship just as we do in the United States. “Nearly 70% of all forager have a bilateral descent.” (Nowak & Laird, 2010, 3.7) Therefore, if resources become low in a community, the San will relocate with another band with a relative. Using this kinship system a San has the ability to find a relative in almost any band they visit. The San culture is to survive off the land.
The Batik people are a foraging culture. They are reliant on the land and their success is dependent on the values instilled in the camp. These camps made up of “three to six nuclear family members. The nuclear family is the most common type of family in foraging societies. A nuclear family is composed of a mother and father and their children.
San Tribe and their Kinship System Valery Taylor ANT 101 Prof. Melissa Kirkendall March 27, 2012 San Tribe and their Kinship System One of the historical tribes of Southern Africa, is the San society who have lived for a long time on a land that spans across Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. San people, are a foraging tribe in Africa, they are band society made up of the nuclear family and extended family. Band society such as the San survive by going where there is numerous amount of food and water. The San people divide their labor between gender just like many other foraging bands. The women care for their children and forge for vegetation and men hunt and provide other skills.
They organize group activities such as fishing but these are typically informal. It is found that the Batek will occasionally tolerate a lazy person since the spouse of that individual tries to compensate for the laziness. The Batek see themselves a forest people and it is hard to see a village from even feet away when the forest is still green and full. They like to be away from people and use the
3.7, 2010). Having nuclear families within a band, which is typically composed of a group of nuclear families with married children, makes it easier with sharing and cooperation. Marriage is an important factor in band societies. It strengthens the band by bringing in new kinships that can become useful in times of need. Many rules are put in place in the San society, regarding marriage, to ensure that bands are able to link together.
Robert Thomas July 22, 2012 ANT 101 The San are foragers who reside in the Kalahari Desert in Africa. The San people have survived and flourished here for thousands of years. In a foraging culture the people live in mobile groups called Bands (Nowak & Laird, 2010). Most of the time, they move every few weeks to location were food and water is most present. In foraging cultures continuous movement and the sharing of food and water are part of what builds kinship ties.
This honor of the tribe is primary. It can be maintained or lost by an individual woman through her actions and behaviors. “This is not only their sexual honor but also includes her ability to manage the household, cook tasty meals, obedience, cheerfulness, hard work, and the loving upbringing of her children (Lancaster 1981)”. From about the age of two, little boys will have the ability to wander about the camp and will often spend a lot of time in their father’s tent. The young boys of the tribe will
For this reason nuclear families are the most common type of families in foraging societies. A nuclear family is described as being, “composed of a mother and father and their children,” (Nowak and Laird, 2010, section 3.7). According to section 3.7, “The nuclear family is most common because, in a foraging setting, it is adaptive to various situations,” (Nowak and Laird, 2010, section 3.7). Foragers called the San “Bushmen,” live in southwest Africa in the Kalahari Desert. Due to living in the desert, the San have to move frequently.
What is a Family? A family is generally defined as a structured social group consisting of one or two parents, and their children, where the members are usually related through marriage, blood or adoption. There are several types of family structures recognised by sociologists. The most common types of families are nuclear, extended, reconstituted and single parent. Nuclear families consist of both adult male and female with mutually conceived dependants and is always made up of two generations.
The Btsisi society is comprised of bands of nuclear families and extended families. The Btsisi family tends to be large comprised of many children and extends into grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Each family member has plays a significant role in the success of the society. While some members of a family group may possess special skills, no one is omitted from learning the role of another member of the community. This ensures that the skills required to perform the responsibilities are passed on from one generation to the next.