Endogamy is the cultural practice of marrying only within a specific social group, religious denomination, caste or ethnic group, treating a partner from outside that group as unsuitable. It is the structural opposite of exogamy, and the two rules are often applied together at different levels of one society, for example endogamous within an ethnic group but exogamous within its clans.
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Ashkenazi Jewish communities historically practiced strong in-group endogamy, a pattern also reflected in the distinctive genetic and genealogical profile of the population.
Brahmin, Social Groups Marriage within the Brahmin caste, rather than across caste lines, is a defining and continuing feature of endogamy within the Hindu caste system.
Cousin marriage is a classic and widely documented form of endogamous marriage, keeping alliance and property within an extended kin group.
Homogamy, marriage between partners of similar social characteristics, overlaps with but is broader than endogamy, which specifically requires marriage within a bounded group such as a caste, clan or religion.
Endogamous marriage systems, such as the South Asian caste system, frequently incorporate hypergamous norms permitting a bride to marry a groom of somewhat higher status within the same endogamous group.
Held Differently
Structural opposites: endogamy requires marrying within a defined group, exogamy requires marrying outside it; many societies apply both rules at different levels at once.
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