A Comparative Study of the Family Lives of the Northern and Southern Lacandon Mayas of Chiapas (Mexico)

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Abstract
Among the Yucatec-speaking Lacandon Indians of the Chiapas rain forest (southeastern Mexico) the nuclear or the joint family is a relatively independent social and economic unit, even though it is usually incorporated into a larger group of households, which constitutes a unit of residence. The southern La can don practise matrilocality, which means that the power of the man over his wife and children is limited by that of his parents-in-law. Matrilocal residence also favours sororal polygyny, and stresses the opposition between male and female, and between kin and affines. Among the Northern Lacandon the rule of residence is ambivalent, the husband is the undisputed head of the family, and sororal polygyny is uncommon. In both societies the division of labour corresponds to sexual dichotomy, and the socialization of children follows the same pattern. The polygynous household is divided according to the number of wives and, thus, consists of various sub-groups, each wife feeding her own children. Southern Lacandon co-wives, who are normally siblings, are united through their mothers; whereas Northern Lacandon co-wives, being more distantly related, are united through their husbands.

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