Ilongot - Marriage and Family



Young men are expected to engage in a successful headhunt before marriage. Young men and women select each other as marriage partners and form couples prior to marriage. Such a relationship includes casual field labor, gift giving, and sex. Later, there are formai discussions and marital exchanges. These discussions are used to settle disputes with the family of the potential spouse. Premarital pregnancy causes the marriage process to speed up under threats of violence, and disputes are usually ended with marriage. Marriage with closely related cousins (especially second cousins) is preferred, because community leadership is held by sets of male siblings. Levirate and sororate are common upon the death of a spouse. Marriage is monogamous, and matrilocal for some years after the wedding; married couples may return to the husband's natal village only when bride-price payments are complete.


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