Essay on Exogamy – Exogamy is almost the opposite of endogamy. Exogamy is a rule of marriage in which an individual has to marry outside his own group. It prohibits marrying within the group.
The rule of exogamy insists that the so-called blood relatives shall neither have marital connections nor sexual contacts among themselves. Near relatives are not supposed to marry among themselves. But the degree of nearness differs from community to community. In Malenesia and Australia among some people, a son may marry his father’s wife if she is not his direct mother. Similarly, marriage of cousins is allowed among Muslims.
Forms of Exogamy:
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Exogamy assumes various forms in India.
(i) Gotra Exogamy:
The Hindu practice of one marrying outside one’s own ‘gotra’ is gotra exogamy.
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(ii) Pravara Exogamy:
Those who belong to the same pravara (uttering the name of a common saint at religious functions) cannot marry among themselves.
(iii) Village Exogamy:
Many Indian tribes (Example: Naga, Garo, Munda) have the practice of marrying outside their village.
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(iv) Pinda Exogamy:
Those who belong to the same ‘Pinda’ (or sapinda) cannot marry within themselves (‘Pinda’ means common parentage).
Causes of Exogamy:
Various factors must have caused exogamous marriages.
1. The desire on the part of a few to show that they are distinct from others must have encouraged exogamy.
2. Some people feel that they become very cheap and insignificant if they marry within the known circle of relatives and friends. Hence, they want to go out of the group to select their life- partners.
3. The practice of female infanticide must have compelled a few tribals to go out of the tribe to find out mates for them. Due to the shortage of girls they are forced to do this. Some used to kidnap girls belonging to other groups.
4. The belief that close in-breeding would affect the biological quality of the offspring’s, has also added to the practice of exogamy.
It may be noted that endogamy and exogamy are not mutually exclusive. In some societies both the rules may coexist. For example, in India both are practised by the caste Hindus. Castes and subcastes are endogamous in nature. But ‘Gotra’- a small unit of subcaste is exogamous. Such rules differ from society to society.
Today there is a greater trend towards exogamous marriages. Endogamy is said to be conservative. It is widely criticised. Exogamy is appreciated as progressive and more scientific. Exogamy has brought peoples of various castes, races, religious groups, tribals together. It can effectively reduce social distance among peoples and encourage and support social solidarity and communal unity.