Thanks. lineages. Unilineal kinship makes a direct and simple assignment of social statuses, rights, and duties by confining transmission to a single descent line. This descent system, also known as the “agnatic” descent system is the most common descent system that traces an individual to the father’s side or lineage. As a result, these unilineal descent groups often function successfully as long-term joint property owners and economic production teams. How to Become a Community Nurse Education and Career Roadmap, Become a Screenplay Writer Career Requirements and Info, How to Become a Pediatric Patient Care Assistant, How to Become a Facilities Administrator Career Roadmap, The Molecular and Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance, The Origin and Dispersal of Humans and Culture, Unilateral vs. Patrilineal societies, those that connect generations through the father’s line, dominate the world’s culture. It is a basic system of social organization. It's also the reason why my kids get Christmas presents from more than one set of grandparents. Both the male and the female children belong to their father’s lineage or kin and not the mother’s. Kin that are related to us through descent (parent to child) are called consanguine or blood relatives. {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 83,000 Bilateral descent is not used in all societies, however. Bilateral descent (commonly used in the United States) recognizes both the mother’s and the father’s “sides” of the family while unilineal descent recognizes only one sex-based “side” of the family. Importance of Descent