Q. Double Descent ( 10M - 2014) 

Double descent, also known as double unilineal descent, is a kinship system in which individuals trace their ancestry and inheritances through both the paternal and maternal lines. In a double descent system, kinship and inheritance are traced separately and treated differently on the paternal and maternal sides of the family. 

Double descent can be found in certain societies around the world, particularly among certain indigenous groups in Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific. It is a complex kinship system that combines elements of both patrilineal and matrilineal descent systems. 

Examples : 

1) Tiv People (Nigeria): The Tiv people of Nigeria practice a kinship system that incorporates elements of both patrilineal and matrilineal descent. In Tiv society, individuals belong to a patrilineage through their fathers and a matrilineage through their mothers. Inheritance of land and property follows a patrilineal pattern, with sons inheriting from their fathers. However, important social and political positions, such as chieftaincy titles, are passed down through the matrilineal line. This double descent system reflects a balance between male and female lineages and ensures the continuity of both patrilineal and matrilineal ties within the community. 

2) Hopi People (United States): The Hopi people, a Native American tribe residing in Arizona, have a kinship system that incorporates elements of both patrilineal and matrilineal descent. Hopi clans are organized matrilineally, with individuals belonging to their mother's clan. Clan membership determines social identity, obligations, and roles within the community. However, land and property inheritance follow a patrilineal pattern, with sons inheriting from their fathers. This double descent system among the Hopi allows for the transmission of clan identity and matrilineal affiliations while maintaining the patrilineal ties to land and resources. 

Key features of double descent include: 

1) Patrilineal Descent: In the patrilineal line, individuals trace their descent through the male line, meaning they are considered to be members of their father's patrilineal lineage. Inheritance, such as property or status, is passed down through the male line. 

2) Matrilineal Descent: In the matrilineal line, individuals trace their descent through the female line, meaning they are considered to be members of their mother's matrilineal lineage. Inheritance, such as land or other resources, is passed down through the female line. 

3) Distinctive Roles and Obligations: In a double descent system, individuals often have different social roles, rights, and obligations based on their membership in the patrilineal and matrilineal lines. This can include different responsibilities, expectations, and affiliations within the family and community. 

4) Complementary Nature: The patrilineal and matrilineal aspects of double descent are typically seen as complementary rather than conflicting. They often serve different purposes within the social and cultural context of the community, with each line providing different forms of social identity, obligations, and connections. 

Double descent can have various social and cultural implications, including the distribution of resources, the organization of political systems, and the formation of social alliances. It can also shape patterns of marriage and kinship alliances, as individuals may seek partners from different descent groups to maintain and strengthen both sides of their double descent affiliations. 

It is important to note that double descent is just one of many possible kinship systems found across different societies. Kinship systems are diverse and reflect the specific social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they develop. Double descent provides a unique way of organizing kinship, inheritance, and social relationships, and studying it contributes to our understanding of the complexity and variability of kinship systems worldwide