Sororate marriage

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Sororate marriage is the sociological custom of a man marrying (or engaging in sexual activity with) his wife's sister (rarely with her brother), usually after the wife is dead or has proven infertile.

From an anthropological standpoint, this type of marriage strengthens the ties between both groups (the wife's family or clan and the husband's) and preserves the contract between the two to provide children and continue the alliance.

The Inuit people (formerly known as Eskimos) of northern Alaska, Canada and Greenland follow or followed this custom.^{[citation needed]} Sororate marriage is also practiced by Swazi people and for the same reasons as stated.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• Anticipatory sororate
• Levirate marriage
• Sororal polygymy

[edit] References

• The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices
• O'Neil,Dr. Dennis. Marriage Rules: Part II. July 12, 2005. Behavioral Science Department. Nov. 1, 2005 [1]
• Kottak, Conrad P.. Window on Humanity. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies inc., 2005