Cousin Marriages

Juxtaposing contributions from geneticists and anthropologists, this volume provides a contemporary overview of cousin marriage and what is happening at the interface of public policy, the management of genetic risk and changing cultural practices in the Middle East and in multi-ethnic Europe. It offers a cross-cultural exploration of practices of cousin marriage in the light of new genetic understanding of consanguineous marriage and its possible health risks. Overall, the volume presents a reflective, interdisciplinary analysis of the social and ethical issues raised by both the discourse of risk in cousin marriage, as well as existing and potential interventions to promote “healthy consanguinity” via new genetic technologies.
 

Juxtaposing contributions from geneticists and anthropologists, this volume provides a contemporary overview of cousin marriage and what is happening at the interface of public policy, the management of genetic risk and changing cultural practices in the Middle East and in multi-ethnic Europe. It offers a cross-cultural exploration of practices of cousin marriage in the light of new genetic understanding of consanguineous marriage and its possible health risks. Overall, the volume presents a reflective, interdisciplinary analysis of the social and ethical issues raised by both the discourse of risk in cousin marriage, as well as existing and potential interventions to promote “healthy consanguinity” via new genetic technologies.
 

List of Figures and Tables
Preface and Acknowledgements

Introduction
Alison Shaw and Aviad Raz

Chapter 1. The Prevalence and Outcomes of Consanguineous Marriage in Contemporary Societies
Alan H. Bittles

Chapter 2. Risk Calculations in Consanguinity
Leo P. ten Kate, Marieke E. Teeuw, Lidewij Henneman and Martina C. Cornel

PART I: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN TRADITIONAL CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGE

Chapter 3. Cousin Marriages and Inherited Blood Disorders in the Sultanate of Oman
Claire Beaudevin

Chapter 4. 'Dangerous Liaisons': Modern Bio-medical Discourses and Changing Practices of Cousin Marriage in Southeastern Turkey
Laila Prager

PART II: COUSIN MARRIAGES WITHIN MIGRANT POPULATIONS IN EUROPE

Chapter 5. British Pakistani Cousin Marriages and the Negotiation of Reproductive Risk
Alison Shaw

Chapter 6. A Cousin Marriage Equals a Forced Marriage: Transnational Marriages between Closely Related Spouses in Denmark
Anika Liversage and Mikkel Rytter

Chapter 7. Changing Patterns Of Partner Choice? Cousin Marriages Among Migrant Groups In The Netherlands
Oka Storms and Edien Bartels

PART III: CONSANGUINITY AND MANAGING GENETIC RISK

Chapter 8. Using Community Genetics for Healthy Consanguinity
Joël Zlotogora

Chapter 9. Premarital Carrier Testing and Matching in Jewish Communities
Aviad Raz

Chapter 10. Preconception Care For Consanguineous Couples in the Netherlands
Marieke E. Teeuw, Pascal Borry and Leo P. ten Kate

Afterword: The Marriages of Cousins in Victorian England
Adam Kuper

Index