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father

kinship
Also known as: fatherhood, paternity

Quick Summary

In kinship studies, a father can be understood in two ways: as a "genitor," the biological father, or as a "pater," the social father who raises the child. While Western societies often emphasize biological relatedness, other cultures distinguish between these roles, with the social father holding significant affective and legal importance.1

The concept of descent, or acknowledged social parentage, is crucial in understanding kinship. Societies often limit the recognition of kinship to emphasize relationships through one parent, leading to either patrilineal (father's line) or matrilineal (mother's line) systems. These systems influence rights, duties, and inheritance. A "father family" specifically refers to a patrilineal family or group.23

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