Yong, Jose C., and Li, Norman P. (2022) Elucidating evolutionary principles with the traditional Mosuo: Adaptive benefits and origins of matriliny and "walking marriages". Culture and Evolution, 19 (1). pp. 22-40.

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Abstract

The Mosuo, arguably the last surviving matrilineal society in China, offers interesting insights into kinship practices that support reproduction. In particular, the modes of courtship and reproduction of the traditional Mosuo revolve around a practice known as walking marriages, which involves no contract or obligations, where the men do not use social status or resources to court women, women do not expect commitment from men, and multiple sexual relationships are permitted for both sexes and seldom incite conflict. Children borne from walking marriages are cared for not so much by fathers but rather their mothers' brothers, and wealth and property are controlled by women and passed on to daughters rather than to sons. By analyzing how familial and mating practices interact with evolved preferences and ecological affordances, we highlight the ways that traditional Mosuo practices facilitate reproductive success despite differing vastly from those familiar to modern, industrialized societies. We suggest that cases that appear like evolutionary exceptions, such as the traditional Mosuo, can bring into question the mating practices and preferences we take for granted as relatively universal and prompt a nuanced understanding of how environments, culture, and evolution mutually constrain and shape one another.

Item ID:	83511
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2939-7375
Copyright Information:	© 2022 The Author(s). Open access under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.
Date Deposited:	02 Sep 2024 23:53
FoR Codes:	52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5202 Biological psychology > 520204 Evolutionary psychological studies @ 40% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4401 Anthropology > 440107 Social and cultural anthropology @ 30% 45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4519 Other Indigenous data, methodologies and global Indigenous studies > 451904 Global Indigenous studies peoples, society and community @ 30%
SEO Codes:	28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280114 Expanding knowledge in Indigenous studies @ 33% 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280123 Expanding knowledge in human society @ 33% 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences @ 34%
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