Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 282 words written
Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (a) Relevance of complementary filiation Division of Labour by Gender
Opening · a definition
None written.
Body · points
Meyer Fortes defined complementary filiation as, person in which traces or shares kinship bonds with other than its own descent.
Eg: In patrilineal descent, person shares bond with matrilineal family.
Relevance of complementary filiation:
i) Fortes on studying Tallensi societies of Ghana, observed complementary filiation helps in filling gaps due to hierarchical nature of filiation.
ii) J. Goody noted complementary filiation is relevant in fulfilling human's emotional support.
iii) Complementary filiation acts as residual insurance for person.
iv) It play a role in solving emotional conflict between father and son in patrilineal descent.
v) Inheritance in form of property traces through complementary filiation in some societies.
vi) Even in modern day societies, people share kinship bonds with mother's relatives as equal to father's relatives.
Complementary filiation is necessary for ensuing kinship ties in society.
Division of labour is due to various factors in gender observed by CH Cooley.
Reasons for Division of Labour by Gender:
i) Economic factors:
- Hunting-gatherer societies
- Hunting done by men
- food gathering by women
- Horticultural societies
- majority work done by women
- men in care of family.
ii) Political factors:
- Patriarchial - Men is dominant, high power
- Eg: Jats of Haryana
- Matriarchial - Women dominates and has high power
- Eg: Nayars of Kerala
iii) Feminists view that division of labour is due to unequal power relations & exploitation of women by men. Eg: Unpaid labour by women in home.
iv) Modern patriarchal societies:
v) Due to the influence of globalisation, education, division of labour is slowly blurring.
Close · a summary
Eg: Women in army (Permanent commission)
Division of labour in gender is socially constructed, which are slowly breaking in modern era.