What is Endogamy?
Endogamy refers to the practice of marriage within a social group. There are a number of different forms of endogamy, based on convenience, religious beliefs, cultural values, or a desire to consolidate power, among other things. The practice of endogamy is widespread throughout the world, especially among small social groups which are concerned about the possibility of dying out. When one marries outside of a social group, it is called exogamy. Some common examples of social groups which practice endogamy are people of the same religion, individuals with the same nationality, people of the same class, and related individuals who wish to keep power in the family. Essentially any social group can practice endogamy, although the larger the group, the more successful the endogamy will be in the long term. Small groups may actually cause themselves to die out as a result of endogamy, by concentrating deleterious genes which lead to sterility, serious birth defects, and other issues. Often,
