Who has conducted the study on Nayars of Kerala?
Understanding the Study of Nayars of Kerala
The question asks about the sociologist or anthropologist who conducted a significant study on the Nayars of Kerala. The Nayars, a community primarily residing in the state of Kerala in South India, have unique social structures, particularly concerning kinship, marriage, and family organization, which have been subjects of anthropological research.
Let's examine the options provided and their contributions to the field:
- George Peter Murdock: Murdock was an American anthropologist who is well-known for his cross-cultural studies, particularly on kinship systems and social structures worldwide. He compiled vast amounts of data on societies but is not primarily associated with a specific, in-depth ethnographic study solely focused on the Nayars.
- Kathleen Gough: Kathleen Gough (also known as Kathleen Gough Aberle) was a British anthropologist. She conducted extensive fieldwork in South India, including a detailed and influential study on the Nayars of Kerala. Her work provided deep insights into their complex kinship structure, forms of marriage (like the 'taravad' system and 'sambandham' unions), and social organization. Her research challenged some existing anthropological theories on family structures and is considered a classic study in social anthropology.
- Edward Westermarck: Edward Westermarck was a Finnish philosopher and sociologist. He is famous for his work on the history of human marriage and his hypothesis on incest avoidance (the Westermarck effect). While his work broadly covers marriage and family, he is not known for a specific ethnographic study of the Nayars.
- William N. Stephens: William N. Stephens was an American sociologist known for cross-cultural studies of marriage and family, similar in approach to Murdock in some ways. He authored "The Family in Cross-Cultural Perspective," a comprehensive comparative study, but is not specifically linked to the ethnographic study of the Nayars.
Based on the significant contributions to the study of specific communities and kinship systems, Kathleen Gough is widely recognized for her in-depth ethnographic research on the Nayars of Kerala. Her work remains a key reference for understanding the social and familial organization of this group.
Therefore, the individual who conducted the study on Nayars of Kerala is Kathleen Gough.
Comparing Researchers and Their Focus
To further clarify why Kathleen Gough is the correct answer for the Nayars study, here is a brief comparison:
| Researcher | Primary Area of Study / Contribution | Connection to Nayars of Kerala |
|---|---|---|
| George Peter Murdock | Cross-cultural kinship, social structure (global comparisons) | Comparative analysis, but not specific in-depth ethnography |
| Kathleen Gough | Ethnographic studies in South India, kinship, family structures, social change | Conducted extensive, specific fieldwork and published detailed studies on the Nayars. |
| Edward Westermarck | History of marriage, incest taboo (theoretical and historical focus) | Broad theoretical work, not specific ethnography of Nayars |
| William N. Stephens | Cross-cultural family and marriage (comparative analysis) | Comparative analysis, not specific in-depth ethnography |
Kathleen Gough's fieldwork among the Nayars is a foundational study for understanding their distinctive social practices, making her the correct answer to this question.
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Nayars | A community in Kerala, South India, known for historical matrilineal kinship and unique marriage/family practices. |
| Ethnography | The systematic study of people and cultures, often involving fieldwork. Kathleen Gough's work on Nayars is a key example. |
| Kinship System | The system of social relationships based on blood ties (consanguinity) and marriage ties (affinity). Nayar kinship is complex and was a focus of Gough's study. |
Additional Information: Kathleen Gough's Work
Kathleen Gough's research among the Nayars, conducted primarily in the 1940s and 1950s, provided crucial data and analysis on a society with matrilineal descent and complex marital practices (like the 'sambandham' relationships) that differed significantly from Western norms. Her work contributed significantly to anthropological debates on the universality of the nuclear family and the definition of marriage. Her findings challenged prevailing ideas and highlighted the diversity of human social organization. Her notable publications on the Nayars are considered essential reading for students of kinship and South Asian studies.
Important Questions from Social Institutions - Teaching
Which one of the following practice matrilineal family structure?
The unit of production in tribal economy is
Match List - I with List - II
List - I List - II (Types of Religious Organisation) (Definition) A. Sect I. A small, new and exclusive group whose religious tradition has never been associated with and is often at odds with any established religious experience. B. Church II. A religious group that exhibits a general spirit of tolerance and acceptance of other religious bodies. C. Cult III. A large group of religiously oriented people that members are usually born into rather than consciously join. D. Denomination IV. A small group of people who see themselves as true believers and who voluntarily join a group, usually broken off from a more established religion to have a personal religious experience. Choose thecorrectanswer from the options given below:
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R)
Assertion (A): Discrimination is a mode of behaviour.
Reason (R): To discriminate means to deny an individual or a group, a privilege or an opportunity or a pleasure that is thereupon reserved for one's own group.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
What is the appropriate term to describe a woman marrying the brother of her deceased husband?
