Patterns of Family Relations

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Patterns of Family Relations: Response My group got to read about the Basseri in chapter 3 of Cultural Sketches. The Basseri’s sustenance patterns goes as follows: they farm and raise herds of sheep/goats. Each household has to own 100 sheep at minimum, and each shepherd is left responsible for a flocks of 300 sheep/goats. Unlike most cultures, foraging for food is not of major importance for the Basseri, in fact it is more of a game. They are of patrilineal descent. Their wealth is produced from land, and herd size. They are heavily influenced by patriarchal side when it comes to making family decisions. The chief appoints local headmen to lead based of rivaling tribes. It doesn’t seem that the Basseri has a preferred gender, each play a key-laborious- role in the household. The males lead immigration, takes care of herding; and the females, who do all of the general domestic work. Marriage within the Basseri tribe usually is reinforced by affinal ties. They use small bride service in forms of small favors, but there are no real obligations between families. Meaning that the parents of the bride actually receive more of the benefit, because they receive favors. They have a small ritual in which they make a transaction between tents. Partners are chosen by the head of the household, usually the father. Occasionally one will plan their own wedding. In order to keep up with the superstructure all families work as a small factory to tend to the
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