Familiarity breeds…Thoughtlessness
Recently, I heard that a distant relative, a young woman, had married a paternal cousin (though not a first cousin). The news surprised me, and not just because of the health risks of consanguineous marriages. In the South Indian community that I hail from, marriages between cousins are not at all uncommon, provided they follow certain norms. Until a generation ago, it was very common (in fact, even expected) that a girl would marry her mama or athai’s (bua’s) son. Marriages between the children of two brothers or two sisters are however strictly forbidden, since such children are considered true siblings, not cousins.
Which is why this marriage I heard of surprised me. Knowing fully well that the genetic risks are no different whether one marries a cousin related in one way or another, nevertheless, it seems less ’strange’ to marry a cousin related through a maternal line. Because that is what is familiar. And familiarity breeds thoughtlessness. (Even among educated people, it seems.)
Read the rest over at Women’s Web…
I agree such marriages are best avoided and should never be ‘arranged’, but if two people wish to marry, and if they are happy together, then it is fine I guess.
With, both,boys and girls becoming more independent economically, it is difficult to stop them from doing their own thing.Times are changing
That’s true people are not fully aware the risk of marriage with in close relative, possibility of genetic risks are more, parents have responsibility to produce genetically safe children. Something happens wrongly they have to suffer live long with disable children.
NSO’s have to take some action and educate the society.
Thanks all for your comments. My point was really more about why familiarity with certain things (for e.g. marriages with cousins along the maternal line) makes them more palatable than others. Do read the rest over at Women’s Web, in case you haven’t…