Forbidden relatives : the American myth of cousin marriage Martin Ottenheimer

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ottenheimer, Martin.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cross-cousin marriage--United States.

Cross-cousin marriage.

Cross-cousin marriage--Europe.

United States--Social life and customs.

United States.

Europe--Social life and customs.

Europe.

Physical Description:

179 p. ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Urbana : University of Illinois Press, c1996.

Summary:

Forbidden Relatives challenges the belief - widely held in the United States - that legislation against marriage between first cousins is based on a biological risk to offspring. In fact, its author maintains, the U.S. prohibition against such unions originated largely because of the belief that it would promote more rapid assimilation of immigrants. A social anthropologist, Martin Ottenheimer questioned U.S. laws against cousin marriage because his research into marriage patterns around the world showed no European countries prohibit such unions. He examines the historical development of U.S. laws governing marriage, contrasts them with European laws, and analyzes the genetic implications of first cousin marriage. Modern genetic evidence, Ottenheimer says, doesn't support the concept that children of these unions are at any special risk.

Contents:

Laws prohibiting the marriage of relatives

The reasons for U.S. laws against first cousin marriage

European laws prohibiting the marriage of relatives

European views of cousin marriage

The evolutionary factor

Biogenetics and first cousin marriage

Culture and cousin marriage.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. [155]-168) and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Ottenheimer, Martin. Forbidden relatives.

ISBN:

0252022394 (acid-free paper)

9780252022395 (acid-free paper)

0252065409 (pbk. : acid-free paper)

9780252065408 (pbk. : acid-free paper)

OCLC:

33408080