his system is imposed on seemingly natural patterns b. Despite their patrilineal descents, the Nuer see maternal kinship as much more natural The father has to overcome his children's natural connections to ii. A man uses payments of cattle to his wife's lineage to establish his connection with and rights in his children c. In the US we are hung up on genetic connection. We see it as completely natural New reproductive technologies are changing our ideas of relations and kinship 4. Struggles Within Kinship Systems a. For the nuer To be a full man you must have cattle to exchange or sacrifice Initiation makes a man out of a boy 2. symbolically breaks his connection with his mother i1. To be a woman, you must have children to manipulate the system b. Men struggle with their wives because the system creates"normal pi 1. If a man can marry two wives, those children are natural competitors King Lear- classic story of children struggling with parents over Inheritance and powera. This system is imposed on seemingly natural patterns b. Despite their patrilineal descents, the Nuer see maternal kinship as much more natural i. The father has to overcome his children’s natural connections to their mother ii. A man uses payments of cattle to his wife’s lineage to establish his connection with and rights in his children c. In the US we are hung up on genetic connection. We see it as completely natural. i. New reproductive technologies are changing our ideas of relations and kinship 4. Struggles Within Kinship Systems a. For the Nuer: i. To be a full man you must have cattle to exchange or sacrifice 1. Initiation makes a man out of a boy 2. symbolically breaks his connection with his mother ii. To be a woman, you must have children to manipulate the system b. Men struggle with their wives because the system creates “normal” problems i. If a man can marry two wives, those children are natural competitors ii. King Lear – classic story of children struggling with parents over inheritance and power