form of mage payment involving transfer of goods, money or livestock to bride’s group to compensate for loss of women’s labour and her child’s labour.
So balanced reciprocity
commonest form of mage payment.
In such customs, m’age corporate enterprise in which control over valuables is exercised by older generation men.
commonest in Africa & oceania, though form of payment varies.
social conditions
More common in patrilineal descent system
subsistence economy with horticulture or pastoral
Absence of social stratification.
land abundance.
contribution of woman’s labour to group welfare.
No higher Status to woman as male takes decisions
Reasons for bride price,
way of valuing labor of women,
efforts involved by her family in raising her
labour value of woman’s offspring
searing rights over her children by bride’s group.
Types of exchanges
Swasi Tribes (S. Africa) → cattles (No. varies acc. to girl’s rank)
Masai (kenya Tanzania) → cows
Siane, (PNG) & Ifugao (Philippines) → Pigs
Navaho (Somalia) → horse.
kwakiuttl ved Indians → Blanket.
Consequences
consolidation of family ties & permanance of alliance.
implications on status & power.
economics of inheritance.
compensation for loss of labour.
Guarantees sexual rights to the groom
Divorce : fault of groom – bride wealth not returned, fault of bride – bride wealth is returned
It works against divorce or for proper behaviour with one’s spouse as second m’age for groom is costlier & for bride’s family it brings less bride wealth.
Recent Shifts
from B.P.→ indirect dowry (from husband to bride)
Conclusion – represents egalitarianism in societies, also justifies loss of woman’s contribution to her paternal economy.
