bilateral descent

Bilateral descent is a kinship system where individuals recognize and trace their ancestry through both their mother and father equally. This contrasts with unilineal descent systems, which emphasize ties through only one parent, either the father (patrilineal) or the mother (matrilineal). In bilateral systems, a person is considered related to the kin of both parents, creating a broader network of connections compared to unilineal systems. This recognition of kinship through both sides of the family influences social obligations, inheritance, and social status. Some Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains, for example, reckoned descent bilaterally, acknowledging relatives from both the male and female lines.123