Households

Households: Comparative and Historical Studies of the Domestic Group examines the concept of households as a fundamental social and economic unit across cultures and time. The book challenges traditional assumptions, tracing the evolution of the household concept from its roots in anthropological and sociological theories to modern interdisciplinary studies. It emphasizes the dynamic nature of households, highlighting their role in adapting to economic, social, and demographic changes. The authors argue that households are not static or universally defined; instead, they vary in size, composition, and function depending on cultural norms, economic systems, and historical contexts. By incorporating detailed historical and ethnographic case studies, the book sheds light on how households mediate between individuals and broader societal structures, acting as both sites of cooperation and negotiation in the allocation of resources and responsibilities.

Through its collection of essays, the book explores methodological and theoretical approaches to studying households, distinguishing between their morphological (structural), functional (activity-based), and symbolic (conceptual) dimensions. It advocates for a nuanced understanding of households that integrates empirical observation with cultural analysis, emphasizing the interplay between norms, behaviors, and economic factors. This approach reveals the fluidity of household boundaries, the variability of roles within them, and their significance as both practical and symbolic units in human societies. Households offers a comprehensive framework for analyzing one of the most fundamental yet complex social institutions, making it an essential resource for scholars in anthropology, history, sociology, and related fields.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1984.