[129], In the English upper and upper-middle classes, the prevalence of first-cousin marriage had remained steady at between 4% and 5% for much of the 19th century. This would have the effect of eliminating parallel-cousin marriage as an option because they would have the same surname, but would leave cross-cousin marriage acceptable. "Quotes for Inspiration." [188] [42] In Iraq, the right of the cousin also traditionally was followed and males sometimes murdered female cousins who sought to marry without obtaining consent [43] The Syrian city of Aleppo during the 19th century featured a rate of cousin marriage among the elite of 24% according to one estimate, a figure that masked widespread variation: some leading families had none or only one cousin marriage, while others had rates approaching 70%. [2] Cousin marriage is an important topic in anthropology and alliance theory. In Sura An-Nisa (4:2224), Allah mentioned the women who are forbidden for marriage: to quote the Qur'an, " Lawful to you are all beyond those mentioned, so that you may seek them with your wealth in honest wedlock" In Sura Al-Ahzab (33:50), O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. Att'y Gen. 46. Cousin marriage was historically practiced by indigenous cultures in Australia, North America, South America, and Polynesia. [10] Some states prohibiting cousin marriage recognize cousin marriages performed in other states, but this does not hold true in general despite occasional claims to the contrary. At what point are cousins not related? [121] In his 1957 study, the rate varied from 1.8% in the south to 8.4% in the northeast, where it increased moving inward from the coast,[122] and was higher in rural regions than in urban. Alabama. [188], The U.S. state of Maine allows first-cousin marriage if the couple agrees to have genetic counseling, while North Carolina allows it so long as the applicants for marriage are not rare double first cousins, meaning cousins through both parental lines. LEXIS 1605 (2002). This practice is said to possess advantages such as resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. However, enforcement proved difficult and by the subsequent Qing dynasty, the former laws had been restored. To contextualize the group's size, the total proportion of interracial marriages in 1960, the last census year before the end of anti-miscegenation statutes, was 0.4%, and the proportion of black-white marriages was 0.13%. In the United States, second cousins are legally allowed to marry in every state. "According to the Marriage Act of 1961 [cousins] can marry," Genealogy SA's Beryl Schahinger told ABC Radio Adelaide 's Afternoons program. According to Korotayev, a systematic acceptance of parallel-cousin marriage took place when Islamization occurred together with Arabization. [108] Currently, according to the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China, Article 7, "No marriage may be contracted under any of the following circumstances: (1) if the man and the woman are lineal relatives by blood, or collateral relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship. [114][115] As of February2014[update], 24 U.S. states prohibit marriages between first cousins, 19 U.S. states allow marriages between first cousins, and 7 U.S. states allow only some marriages between first cousins. Moore, A Defense of First-Cousin Marriage, 10 Cleveland Marshall L. Rev. A study of a middle-class London population conducted in the 1960s found that just one marriage in 25,000 was between first cousins. [73] This was calculated by counting up from one prospective partner to the common ancestor, then down to the other prospective partner. However, this statute was amended in 2009; while sex with close adult family members (including first cousins) remains a felony, the more serious penalty now attaches to sex with an individual's direct ancestor or descendant. Only 21 states in America allow first cousins to be married legally. [42] In ancient Persia, the Achaemenid kings habitually married their cousins and nieces,[46] while between the 1940s and 1970s, the percentage of Iranian cousin marriages increased from 34 to 44%. [170] Morgan himself had married his cousin in 1853. [9] Since that time, Kentucky (1943) and Texas have banned first-cousin marriage, and since 1985 Maine has mandated genetic counseling for marrying cousins to minimize the risk of any serious health defects for their children. code or county). If the first cousins are at least 65 years old, they can marry; first cousins may marry if one or both are under 65 and they get court approval based on showing that one of them is sterile and incapable of reproducing. In contrast to both Protestantism and Catholicism, the Eastern Orthodox Church prohibits up to second cousins from marrying. [82] It began to fall out of favor in the 19th century as women became socially mobile. Some bar first-cousin marriages, but may allow marriages between second cousins (i.e., the children of first cousins), half-cousins, and adopted cousins. [3] Six states prohibit first-cousin-once-removed marriages. Matrilateral cross-cousin marriage in societies with matrilineal descent meant that a male married into the family his mother's brother, building an alliance between the two families. In the short term, some observers have concluded that the only new forces that could discourage such unions are government bans like the one China enacted in 1981. App. What about a first cousin or half sibling? [101] Writers such as Noah Webster (17581843) and ministers like Philip Milledoler (17751852) and Joshua McIlvaine helped lay the groundwork for such viewpoints well before 1860. A cousin marriage is a marriage where the spouses are cousins (i.e. [10] [63] Baba of Karo's first of four marriages was to her second cousin. [194], The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia refers to a theory by the Anglican bishop of Bath and Wells speculating that Mary and Joseph, the mother of Jesus and her husband, were first cousins. Unlike other systems such as the levirate, the sororate, or uncle-niece marriage, cross-cousin marriage is preferential because for obvious reasons these others cannot constitute the exclusive or even preponderant rule of marriage in any group. This study implicated cousin marriage as responsible for idiocy. To make things easier, below you will find links to laws on prohibited marriage and annulment laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. [7][18][105], In the Far East, South Korea is especially restrictive with bans on marriage out to third cousins, with all couples having the same surname and region of origin having been prohibited from marrying until 1997. These included not only cousin marriages, but also uncle-niece unions. [229], A BBC report discussed Pakistanis in Britain, 55% of whom marry a first cousin. Islamic view The Islamic view is that, while it is permissible to marry cousins, it is preferred to choose a partner to marry from outside one's family. All in all, marrying your cousin or half-sibling will largely depend on the laws where you live and personal and/or cultural beliefs. Newton Freire-Maia[pt] found paternal parallel cousin marriage to be the most common type. Before the advent of Christianity through colonization, the Igbos had always frowned upon and specifically prohibited consanguineal marriages, both the parallel and cross-cousin types, which are considered incestuous and cursed. "Clinical Genetics Handbook". King Rehoboam and his wives Maacah and Mahalath were grandchildren of David (2 Chronicles 11:20). [70] In contrast to the Nigerian situation, in Ethiopia, Islam cannot be identified with a particular ethnicity and is found across most of them, and conversions between religions are comparatively common. This site is protected by Article 1358 of the Greek Civil Code also prohibits the marriage of . The Tech Interactive is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.Tax ID#: 94-2864660. [30] In Chinese culture, patrilineal ties are most important in determining the closeness of a relation. Of 277 first marriages, only 84 were between couples unable to trace any genealogical relationship between them. [99] Finally, Edward Westermarck states that marriage among the ancient Teutons was apparently prohibited only in the ascending and descending lines and among siblings. [166] It is unknown what proportion of that number were first cousins, which is the group facing marriage bans. [2][18][19][20][21], Confucius described marriage as "the union of two surnames, in friendship and in love". In some periods in Chinese history, all cousin marriage was legally prohibited, as law codes dating from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) attest. [179] It got further than Kahn's bill, passing the House of Delegates by 82 to 46 despite most Republicans voting no, but finally died in the state senate. Of the three types of institution of exogamy rules, dual organization, and cross-cousin marriage, the last was most significant, making the analysis of this form of marriage the crucial test for any theory of marriage prohibitions. According to the Clinical Genetics Handbook, children of non-related couples have a 2-3% chance of being born with a birth defect, and children of first cousins have a 4-6% chance. Lvi-Strauss held that women were always exchanged for some "prestation" which could either be other women or labor and material goods. First cousins have four times the consanguinity of second cousins, while first cousins once removed have half that of first cousins. Most Indian Muslims, by contrast, are the result of Hindus' conversions to Islam in the 16th century or later. There may be rules and laws against incest, due to genetic concerns. [67], In Ethiopia, most of the population was historically rigidly opposed to cousin marriage, and could consider up to third cousins the equivalent of brother and sister, with marriage at least ostensibly prohibited out to sixth cousins. [83] First-cousin marriage in England in 1875 was estimated by George Darwin to be 3.5% for the middle classes and 4.5% for the nobility, though this had declined to under 1% during the 20th century. Consanguineous marriages are legal and relatively common in Afghanistan. ", "TPT St. Paul. One source from the 1830s states that cousin marriage was less common in Cairo than in other areas. Prior to these . Some cultures, on the other hand, may encourage marriage between cousins for a variety of reasons. It existed in Medina during Muhammad's time, but at less than today's rates. They live in a small Pennsylvania town and she worries that her grandchildren will be treated as outcasts and ridiculed due to their parental status. The Catholic Churches' teachings had proved unworkable in practice as they required people to know, and not marry, all relations back as far as their common Great Great Great Great Great Grandparents (i.e. First cousin marriage allowed. [239] However, there is a large increase in fertility for 3rd and 4th cousin marriages, whose children exhibit more fitness than both unrelated individuals or 2nd cousins. [216] In terms of mortality, a 1994 study found a mean excess pre-reproductive mortality rate of 4.4%,[217] while another study published in 2009 suggests the rate may be closer to 3.5%. Also Krishna married his cross cousin Mitravinda (Daughter of Vasudeva's sister Rajadhi who was Queen of Avanti) and Bhadra (Daughter of Vasudeva's sister Shrutakirti who was the Queen of Kekaya Kingdom. Estate of Levie (1975, Cal App 1st Dist) was a California case on a purported first-cousin marriage contracted in Nevada. First and second cousin marriages were then banned at the Council of Agde in AD 506, though dispensations sometimes continued to be granted. [3], In some cultures and communities, cousin marriages are considered ideal and are actively encouraged and expected; in others, they are seen as incestuous and are subject to social stigma and taboo. [116], World map showing prevalence of marriage between cousins, up to and including second cousins, according to data published in 2012 by the United States National Center for Biotechnology Information. Several states of the United States have bans on cousin marriage. [4] Some states prohibiting cousin marriage recognize cousin marriages performed in other states, but despite occasional claims that this holds true in general,[5] laws also exist that explicitly void all foreign cousin marriages or marriages conducted by state residents out of state. Knowing that cousin marriages increase the probability of recessive genetic conditions, she is understandably against the practice. If a party is at least 16, they must get parental consent to marry. Research from Ahmad Teebi suggests consanguinity is declining in Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, and among Palestinians, but is increasing in the United Arab Emirates. In 2007, between a fifth and a quarter of marriages among Turks in Germany were between relatives. A Genetic Report Should Cause A Rethinking Of Incest Laws. They can provide a more accurate risk estimate based on your situation and can discuss if there is any testing available. Marriage between close relatives increases the chance of certain genetic concerns. Shaw and Saller, however, believe that the estates of aristocrats without heirs had previously been claimed by the emperor, and that the Church merely replaced the emperor. Currently, like in the old days, before courtship commences, thorough enquiries are made by both families to not only ascertain character traits, but to also ensure their children are not related by blood. Arjuna had gone into exile alone after having disturbed Yudhishthira and Draupadi in their private quarters. [2], In most societies, cousin marriage apparently is more common among those of low socio-economic status, among the illiterate and uneducated, and in rural areas. To many (Morgan included), cousin marriage, and more specifically parallel-cousin marriage, was a remnant of a more primitive stage of human social organization. You may happen to know your second cousins as well. Specifically, it increases the chances of having a child with arecessivecondition. [238], Higher total fertility rates are reported for cousin marriages than average, a phenomenon noted as far back as George Darwin during the late 19th century. [56], Andrey Korotayev claimed that Islamization was a strong and significant predictor of parallel cousin (father's brother's daughter FBD) marriage, bint 'amm marriage. Finally, in 2010 the Telegraph reported that cousin marriage among the British Pakistani community resulted in 700 children being born every year with genetic disabilities. Age Requirement: Legal age to marry is 18. It was estimated in 1960 that 0.2% of all marriages between Roman Catholics were between first or second cousins, but no more recent nationwide studies have been performed. Their view is that the Christian injunctions against cousin marriage were due more to ideology than to any conscious desire to acquire wealth. For example, in So Paulo in the mid-19th century, the rate of cousin marriage apparently was 16%,[123] but a century later, it was merely 1.9%. The daughters of Eleazer also married the sons of Eleazer's brother Kish in the still later time of David (1 Chronicles 23:22). [3], Since the 13th century, the Catholic Church has measured consanguinity according to what is called the civil-law method. [131], There has been a great deal of debate in the United Kingdom about whether to discourage cousin marriages through government public relations campaigns, or ban them entirely. [27] This usage remains today, with bio () cousins considered "outside" and paternal tng () cousins being of the same house. It differs from incest prohibitions in that the latter employs a series of negative relationships, saying whom one cannot marry, while cross-cousin marriage employs positive relationships, saying whom should marry. [3] John Calvin thought of the Biblical list only as illustrative and that any relationship of the same or smaller degree as any listed, namely the third degree by the civil-law method, should therefore be prohibited. According to Hol, the oft-quoted reason for cousin marriage of keeping property in the family is, in the Middle Eastern case, just one specific manifestation of keeping intact a family's whole "symbolic capital". States have various laws regarding marriage between cousins and other close relatives,[191] which involve factors including whether or not the parties to the marriage are half-cousins, double cousins, infertile, over 65, or whether it is a tradition prevalent in a native or ancestry culture, adoption status, in-law, whether or not genetic counselling is required, and whether it is permitted to marry a first cousin once removed. Code of Ala. 13A-13-3. This follows a 2003 Steve Sailer essay published for The American Conservative, where he claimed that high rates of cousin marriage play an important role in discouraging political democracy. According to this act, a first cousin couple must meet the following criteria to marry one another legally. Identification Needed: Photo ID is required. [176], Lvi-Strauss postulated that cross-cousin marriage had the two consequences of setting up classes which automatically delimit the group of possible spouses and of determining a relationship that can decide whether a prospective spouse is to be desired or excluded. Finally, the Baggara Arabs favor MBD marriage first, followed by cross-cousin marriage if the cross cousin is a member of the same surra, a group of agnates of five or six generations depth. Marriage within the lineage is preferred to marriage outside the lineage even when no exact genealogical relationship is known. "Keeping Marriage in the Family. [36], Cousin marriage has been allowed throughout the Middle East for all recorded history. Arkansas. In general, laws about whether it's legal to marry your cousin fall into three categories: But there are even more nuances to state laws. Hol cited the Berta people of Sudan, who consider the FBD to be the closest kinswoman to a man outside of the prohibited range. [228], The Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformation found an association between consanguinity and hydrocephalus, postaxial polydactyly, and bilateral oral and facial clefts. Colorado. This is rooted in genetic concerns: close relatives who marry one another are more likely to have children with diseases or other issues. Cousin marriage were legal in ancient Rome from the Second Punic War (218201 BC), until it was banned by the Christian emperor Theodosius I in 381 in the West, and until after the death of Justinian (565) in the East,[92][93] but the proportion of such marriages is not clear. For instance, in Mumbai, studies done in 1956 showed 7.7% of Hindus married to a second cousin or closer. Such marriages are not legal in many states. For example, Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor, married his children to the children of his half-brother. George Louis Arner in 1908 considered the ban a clumsy and ineffective method of eugenics, which he thought would eventually be replaced by more refined techniques. Contact us.
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