Sororate marriage
Encyclopedia
Sororate marriage is a type of marriage in which a husband engages in marriage or sexual relations with the sister of his wife, usually after the death of his wife, or once his wife has proven infertile.
From an anthropological
standpoint, this type of marriage
strengthens the ties between both groups (the wife's family or clan and the husband's) and preserves the contract between the two to provide children and continue the alliance. It is seen among some European-American families, although it is not an imperative tradition.
The Athabaskan-speaking Inuit
people (formerly known as Eskimos) of northern Alaska
, Canada
and Greenland
follow or followed this custom. It is also followed by the Chiricahua group of the Western Apache, who are Athabaskan speaking, as is levirate marriage
.
Sororate marriage is also practiced by the Sioux
(Lakota) tribes, and some Western Mono tribes in California, such as the Wuksachi or Waksachi.
Sororate marriage is also practiced by the Swazi people and for the same reasons as stated. This type of marriage is also made in Bhutan
. The former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck
(the current king's father) is married to four wives, all of whom are sisters. There is also evidence that sororate marriage existed in ancient China.
Levirate marriage and junior sororate marriage are permitted for the Hindu Bania caste. Levirate marriage was encouraged among ancient Jewish cultures.
From an anthropological
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
standpoint, this type of marriage
Types of marriages
The type, functions, and characteristics of marriage vary from culture to culture, and can change over time. In general there are two types: civil marriage and religious marriage, and typically marriages employ a combination of both The type, functions, and characteristics of marriage vary from...
strengthens the ties between both groups (the wife's family or clan and the husband's) and preserves the contract between the two to provide children and continue the alliance. It is seen among some European-American families, although it is not an imperative tradition.
The Athabaskan-speaking Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
people (formerly known as Eskimos) of northern Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
follow or followed this custom. It is also followed by the Chiricahua group of the Western Apache, who are Athabaskan speaking, as is levirate marriage
Levirate marriage
Levirate marriage is a type of marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obligated to marry his brother's widow, and the widow is obligated to marry her deceased husband's brother....
.
Sororate marriage is also practiced by the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
(Lakota) tribes, and some Western Mono tribes in California, such as the Wuksachi or Waksachi.
Sororate marriage is also practiced by the Swazi people and for the same reasons as stated. This type of marriage is also made in Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. The former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the former King of Bhutan. He was the fourth Dragon King of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006...
(the current king's father) is married to four wives, all of whom are sisters. There is also evidence that sororate marriage existed in ancient China.
Levirate marriage and junior sororate marriage are permitted for the Hindu Bania caste. Levirate marriage was encouraged among ancient Jewish cultures.