Bridewealth and the American Culture

Bridewealth and the American Culture Family and in the flesh(predicate) assets affect the choices we make in picking the right mate in Western Culture. The ways we view these issues influences argon dating practices, and pairing choices. evolutionary theory predicts certain mannerism that should influence dating. Most of the time evolutionary theory is reflected in mating practices. Mating choices atomic number 18 as well as impact cross-cultur every(prenominal)y in other ways like with the Kipsigis and bridewealth. Choices we make for dating and marriage prospects rate differently according to sex and kitchen-gardening.The evolutionary theory predicts that wo workforce volition value pecuniary prospects higher than custody do (Boyd, 2006, 461). Because women brook a larger parental investment in a child, they want to be with a mate who will be able to take mission of them. In David Buss research he found that knowing a persons culture rather than gender will indicate gu statory modalitys except for good financial prospects(Boyd, 2006, 465). For men in Western Culture good financial prospects are lower on their list and good looks is higher.This may be because women who are more attractive to them give the signal that they are less in all likelihood to deplete diseases, and possible ground on their body type may be more fertile. Men and women also differ in the preference for the age of their associates. Men tend to go out younger women while women determine older men. This relates to the evolutionary theory because mens fertility lonesome(prenominal) slightly decreases with age, while women fertility ends as they reach menopause. It would make sensory faculty in evolutionary terms for men to choose women who have the capacity to have children and are therefore younger.In actual practice men do choose women that are younger but not all of them are able to have children. Older men may trust younger women, but they may also want to find pe rson who shares their tastes in music, has similar goals in life, and so on (Boyd, 2006, 462). They may also settle with knowing that they may only be able to date women who are closer to their own age. In Kipsigis culture bridewealth is practiced. Bridewealth is commitment bragging(a) to the father of the bride from the grooms father. The payment, tendered in livestock and cash, compensates the brides family for the handout of her labor and gives the groom rights to her labor and the children she bears during her marriages (Boyd, 2006, 468). It is almost like an investment. The more a woman is worth the higher the bridewealth. A woman is also expect to return to her family during the harvest and a higher bridewealth may be paying if the families are too far apart. Higher bridewealth is also paid for women who have had their first menstruation. This also fits in with evolutionary theory that women have a set timeline for having children.As a woman is younger they may be fit to ha ve more children. A plumper woman will play a higher the bridewealth as well. Thinness in animals reflects less of cogency for children and these views are reflected in the Kipsigis people when they choose women who have more body. In Western culture bridewealth is not common. Typically the brides family is expected to pay for much of the wedding reflecting more of a dowry. In both cultures typically the more desirable the womans assets are, the better choices of bridewealth or financial prospects. Mating choices and preferences can very from culture to culture.There is one thing that all cultures have in common which is that females prefer a partner with better financial ability. Evolutionary theory favors mating choices that will find the most amount of fertility. For the Kipsigis this is seen in the healthier plump women and young women who have the ability to have more children. In Western society men rate attractiveness higher than women and often choose younger women as we ll even if it doesnt increase fertility. Our mating choices are based on our gender and culture. References Boyd, Robert, & Silk, Joan B. (2006). How Humans Evolved (4th ed. ). New York W W Norton & Company.