What makes some cultures agree to cousin marriages easily and others not so easily? Is it more than just knowledge of potential birth defects?

It’s because of tradition, largely based in the desire to maintain unity and to keep wealth/land within the clan.

Remember that marriages in these traditional cultures are seen as a union of the couples’ families, rather than the couple themselves. Individualism is a foreign concept, so even arranged marriages between non-relatives are focused around making/maintaining familial connections.

I don’t think it’s an issue of a ” shortage of prospective grooms/brides ” for most cultures that continue the practice of cousin marriage.

“My seeds grow with his seeds marry his seeds, That’s how we keep wu-tang money all up in the family” – ghostface killer from glaciers of ice.

I will keep it comming.

I guess that’s what the kids are calling it these days Right, bess? I’m sure the only thing surf-board about you is those abs, and even if that’s not the case, I’m sure we can work it out. With the help of our infamous interns, of course.

Oh, port-sister, I’m never never-nude but I am a total surfboard, so I got nothing to show but my low self esteem. hehe.

I don’t have any data on this, but my hunch is that it may be more prevalent in minority cultures. The shortage of prospective grooms/brides together with the desire to continue the family line and contain wealth were probably propelling this trend.

Thanks, and I will keep it comming.

I know a couple who named their daughter “Maeby”.

bess, i love you – please, please don’t be a never-nude.

-girl with low self-esteem