For Better or Worse

Marriage and family in Sarawak

Family and kinship structures have long been the subject of anthropological research in Sarawak, but little is known of the changes wrought by social transformative forces. Globalisation, urbanization and an increasing mobile work-force are some of the processes at work. The chapters in this book examine many important issues such as economic development of the state and intergenerational social mobility; migration of men for work and its impact on Iban families; organization of money in a marriage and how this shapes gender relations in the household; and changing courtship patterns and family structure. All the authors know Sarawak well and the book's multidisciplinary nature gives a holistic perspective on this very important topic.