Arts & Culture
Kinship Systems and Marriage Rules in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Quick fact
In some cultures, a man is forbidden to marry his deceased wife's sister, while in others he is required to do so—the sororate rule—illustrating how marriage rules can be the exact opposite across societies.
Why this is interesting
You call your mother's sister 'aunt', but in some cultures that same woman is also called 'mother.' Why? The answer lies in how societies construct family, and it shapes who you can marry.