In anthropology, ambilocality (also called bilocal residence) refers to a postmarital residence pattern in which a newly married couple may choose to live with or near either the husband’s family or the wife’s family. It is one of several kinship-based residence rules studied in cultural anthropology.

🌍 Definition

• Ambilocality: Flexibility in residence after marriage; couples can reside with either spouse’s kin.
• Alternative Term: Bilocal residence.
• Contrast:
  • Patrilocal: Couple lives with/near husband’s family.
  • Matrilocal: Couple lives with/near wife’s family.
  • Neolocal: Couple establishes a new, independent household.

🔑 Anthropological Contexts

• Flexibility in Kinship Systems:
  • Ambilocality often occurs in societies where neither patrilineal nor matrilineal descent dominates.
  • It allows households to adapt to demographic or economic needs.
• Examples:
  • Found in some Southeast Asian societies, Pacific Island groups, and Native American communities.
  • Couples may choose residence based on resource availability, inheritance opportunities, or family labor needs.
• Adaptive Strategy:
  • Ambilocality provides resilience in small-scale societies, balancing kinship obligations and ecological pressures.

📚 Importance in Anthropology

• Kinship Analysis: Ambilocality highlights how residence rules reflect descent systems and social organization.
• Economic & Ecological Adaptation: Couples may choose residence based on farming land, herding needs, or trade opportunities.
• Social Cohesion: By allowing choice, ambilocality reduces tension between kin groups and strengthens inter-family alliances.
• Comparative Insight: Studying ambilocality alongside other residence patterns reveals cultural diversity in managing marriage and kinship.

In short: Ambilocality in anthropology is a flexible postmarital residence system where couples may live with either spouse’s family, reflecting adaptive strategies in kinship, ecology, and resource use.