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Types of Residence

Patrilocal residence occurs when a newly married couple lives with or near the groom's father, which accounts for 69% of societies worldwide. This residence pattern develops from patrilineal descent systems and allows the groom to remain near male relatives. Matrilocal residence, found in 13% of societies, involves a couple living with or near the bride's mother, keeping women near female kin since descent is traced through females. Avunculocal residence, seen in 4% of societies, locates a couple near the groom's maternal uncle, associated with matrilineal descent where men gain status from their mother's brother.

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555 views

Types of Residence

Patrilocal residence occurs when a newly married couple lives with or near the groom's father, which accounts for 69% of societies worldwide. This residence pattern develops from patrilineal descent systems and allows the groom to remain near male relatives. Matrilocal residence, found in 13% of societies, involves a couple living with or near the bride's mother, keeping women near female kin since descent is traced through females. Avunculocal residence, seen in 4% of societies, locates a couple near the groom's maternal uncle, associated with matrilineal descent where men gain status from their mother's brother.

Uploaded by

cy williams
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Patrilocal residence occurs when a newly married couple establishes their home near or in the groom's

father's house. This makes sense in a society that follows patrilineal descent (that is, when descent is
measured only from males to their offspring, as in the case of the red people in the diagram
below). This is because it allows the groom to remain near his male relatives. Women do not remain in
their natal household after marriage with this residence pattern. About 69% of the world's societies
follow patrilocal residence, making it the most common.

Matrilocal residence occurs when a newly married couple establishes their home near or in the bride's
mother's house. This keeps women near their female relatives. Not surprisingly, this residence pattern
is associated with matrilineal descent (that is, when descent is measured only from females to their
offspring, as in the case of the green people below). Men leave their natal households when they
marry. About 13% of the world's societies have matrilocal residence.

Avunculocal residence occurs when a newly married couple establishes their home near or in the
groom's maternal uncle's house. This is associated with matrilineal descent. It occurs when men obtain
statuses, jobs, or prerogatives from their nearest elder matrilineal male relative. Having a woman's son
live near her brother allows the older man to more easily teach his nephew what he needs to know in
order to assume his matrilineally inherited role. About 4% of the world's societies have avunculocal
residence.

Ambilocal residence occurs when a newly married couple has the choice of living with or near the
groom's or the bride's family. The couple may also live for a while with one set of parents and then
move to live with the other. About 9% of the world's societies have ambilocal residence.

Neolocal residence occurs when a newly married couple establishes their home independent of both
sets of relatives. While only about 5% of the world's societies follow this pattern, it is popular and
common in urban North America today largely because it suits the cultural emphasis on
independence. However, economic hardship at times makes neolocal residence a difficult goal to
achieve, especially for young newlyweds. Elsewhere, neolocal residence is found in societies in which
kinship is minimized or economic considerations require moving residence periodically. Employment in
large corporations or the military often calls for frequent relocations, making it nearly impossible for
extended families to remain together.

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