The Extension of Incest Taboos in the Woleai, Micronesia

Smith, Alfred G.; Kennedy, John P. (August 1960). "The Extension of Incest Taboos in the Woleai, Micronesia". American Anthropologist. 62 (4): 643–647. doi:10.1525/aa.1960.62.4.02a00080. ISSN 1548-1433 0002-7294, 1548-1433 .

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Abstract: “The Extension of Incest Taboos in the Woleai, Micronesia” by Alfred G. Smith and John P. Kennedy, published in the “American Anthropologist” journal, investigates the variability of incest taboos among different societies, focusing on the Woleai islands in Micronesia. It discusses anthropological perspectives on incest taboos and challenges the notion that kin groups are the sole determinants of these boundaries. The authors argue that factors such as demography and ecology can also significantly influence the extension of incest taboos, although these factors are often overlooked in analyses of social organization. The study presents census data and kinship relations from several islands, including Falalap, Falalis, Eauripik, and Lamotrek, to demonstrate differences in the application of incest taboos. It highlights a preference for cross-cousin marriages on some islands, like Eauripik, which is influenced by demographic and ecological factors rather than the kinship system alone. In conclusion, the authors suggest that social organization is not an isolated system but is affected by external factors, challenging existing theories that prioritize kinship systems as the primary influences on incestuous marriage boundaries.

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OpenAlex: W2086487556
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