Kinship and Social Structure

Kinship and social structure refer to how people relate to one another through family ties and organize their communities. Kinship beliefs determine relationships like parent, sibling, or cousin, shaping social roles and responsibilities. Social structure involves the patterns and institutions—such as family units, clans, or classes—that organize cooperation, authority, and resource sharing within a society. Together, they influence daily interactions, inheritance, marriage, and community cohesion, providing a framework for understanding individual positions and group dynamics within a culture or society.