Question

Discuss any seven features of exogamy.

Answer 1

Exogamy is the practice of marrying outside one’s clan, village or group descent group or lineage.

1. There are four kinds of exogamy among the Hindus. They are Gotra, Pravara, Sapinda and village.
2. The fear of racial degeneration leads to exogamy.
3. The desire to widen the area of co-operative cultural contact is another reason.
4. The need for genetic diversity also led to exogamy.
5. Norms related to incest are also responsible for exogamy.
6. In hunting and food-gathering communities, women were a burden, and this would have led to female infanticide and female scarcity. This might have forced men to marry girls from outside.
7. Man’s desire to marry someone belonging to a different social group led to marital alliances with members from other groups.
8. Exogamy led to culture conflict and cultural degeneration.