Variations in Types of First-Cousin Marriages over a Two-Generation Period among Arabs in Israel

Abstract

The consanguineous marriage phenomenon, particularly the first-cousin marriage type, had been common among different Arab societies and it was even regarded as integral to their culture. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence and trends of first-cousin marriage types over a period of two generations among Arab society in Israel. A specially designed questionnaire was used to survey the study sample that represented this society, and a comparative analysis was performed. During the two generations, the prevalence of first-cousin marriage types was found to be decreasing but still was most predominant among the various consanguineous marriage types. Among the first-cousin marriage types, the paternal subtype was reported to be the favored one in the two generations. Our study concluded that first-cousin marriage was still the preferable type in the Arab community of Israel.