endogamous

Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific social, ethnic, religious, or geographic group. The adjective endogamous describes individuals or populations that follow this pattern. Endogamy can be formal, governed by law or community rules, or informal, based on custom and social pressure. It is found in various forms worldwide, including caste systems, closed religious groups, tribal communities, and local networks that favor intra-group unions.

Endogamy arises from a range of motives, including the preservation of cultural identity, property and alliance considerations, ritual or religious beliefs about purity, and social cohesion. In many societies, marriage is restricted to members of the same caste, sect, clan, or kin group, and practices such as arranged marriages or dowry rules can reinforce the pattern. Exogamy, by contrast, encourages marriages outside the group and often serves to broaden social ties or genetic diversity.

Genetic and demographic effects can accompany endogamy. Within a strongly endogamous population, there is greater genetic homogeneity, and the chance of recessive genetic disorders can increase if related marriages are common and the population is relatively small. Socially, endogamy can help maintain group identity and cohesion but may limit individual marriage choice and contribute to social stratification or tension with neighboring groups.

Endogamy is a descriptive term used in anthropology and sociology to describe a marriage pattern. In modern, plural societies, endogamous tendencies often coexist with exogamy and intercultural marriages.