DO WOMEN REALLY NEED MARITAL PARTNERS FOR SUPPORT OF THEIR REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS? THE CASE OF THE MATRILINEAL KHASI OF N. E. INDIA

Abstract

Among the Khasi, a matrilineal society in N. E. India, women have direct control over resources and help from matrilineal kin. Given this context, we question what effects husbands might have on women’s reproductive success. Multivariate analyses of husband contributions on number of live-born children, child survival, and growth of children find positive effects. These effects pertain particularly if the husband is reported to be head of household, otherwise husband effects can be negative. The analysis is framed in terms of facultative reproductive strategies as husbands’ contributions are viewed as responses to variation in women’s resources and condition.

Citation

Leonetti, D.L., Nath, D.C., Hemam, N.S. and Neill, D.B. (2004), "DO WOMEN REALLY NEED MARITAL PARTNERS FOR SUPPORT OF THEIR REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS? THE CASE OF THE MATRILINEAL KHASI OF N. E. INDIA", Alvard, M. (Ed.) Socioeconomic Aspects of Human Behavioral Ecology (Research in Economic Anthropology, Vol. 23), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 151-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-1281(04)23006-2