Laura Bohannan identified thirteen types of this practice among the Dahomey. John McLennan linked the origin of this practice
Laura Bohannan identified thirteen types of this practice among the Dahomey. John McLennan linked the origin of this practice in primitive society to infanticide. The Mosuo people of China practice its rare "walking" type. Rodney Needham began a debate over whether there is a meaningful difference between the "prescriptive" and "preferential" forms of this practice. This practice is analyzed as an exchange governed by a rule of reciprocity in the alliance theory of Claude LÃ©vi-Strauss. The Nuer practice the "ghost" form of it, which, like the "levirate" form practiced by communities such as Orthodox Jews, involves the brother of a dead man. For 10 points, name this practice which is exogamous when it occurs between tribes, and which often involves the giving of a dowry.