To it is slightly odd and creepy...

[JustForMe]

...to marry your first cousin?

It got me thinking after watching Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

Depends on the individual circumstances I suppose.

Yer when I heard it I just thought how close I am to my cousins and it made me a shiver a little but thats just me.

ummmmmm not necessarily - but my only male first cousin is gay - so no, it wouldnt occur to me

it's certainly common in aome asian cultures, but it's more to do with keeping money and property within the family.

Not a great idea genetically either - better to procreate with someone with very different genes to you!

This is interesting/shocking cdn.front.moveon.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/NYTimes-gay-marriage-cousins-graphic.jpeg

I didnt think about that I suppose nits not as bad if you dont really know them lol

sorry - marrying cousins vs marrying same sex partner in the US

in my family step brother and step sister married

Thats different there isnt a blood connection

I'm clearly having a thiock moment because Im not seeing the correlation between gay marriage and cousins marrying - and frankly I couldnt care less what a backward country like the USA has in its laws.

there! I feel better for getting that off my chest

I would have married my first cousin, he is bloody gorgeous! That said I wasn't brought up close with him iyswim, only saw him at Christmas every year.

I went to school with someone whose parents were first cousins. They hadn't been brought up together. They were strict catholics and sought permission from the pope (I assume it was actually a paper pusher at the vatican rather than the actual pope) as they couldn't find a priest that would without it. I couldn't but then I am very close with my cousins.

I was surprised to be asked in my booking appt when pregnant, whether DP was a close relative - so maybe it's not that uncommon.

justforme - they grew up together though - bit odd

It is a bit weird! I couldn't do it.

I know a family (not Asian BTW, or traveller either) where the last 3 generations have successively married first cousins ....the last set, in their 20's have made an elective decision to not have children because they are becoming, for want of a better phrase, a bit inbred and the possibility of disability rises. I would point out none of that particular family have any hereditary disease, physical disability, MH problems or anything often associated with repetative close marriages.

You've just triggered a convo I had with one of my much extended cousins who works at the embassy. They have to "lose" a lot of records cough when people ask to back track their family tree because 200 years ago there were some, well, illegal/clearly incestuous unions.

Actually used to be common in rural communities in the UK until recently. DP's parents in 80's are 1st cousins, and a few others in their village are as well. I guess less choice back then in rural areas - and there was no money in the family, so that wasn't the motivation.

Incest is disgusting and backward, culture is no excuse

Just nasty and dirty TBH

200 years ago - not last week. A lot of cultures did propogate incest - quite usual for Ancient Egyptians to marry brother/sister - but I doubt they do it 5000 years later.

Pitcairn Island is a good read, if you fancy a google on the down right horrendous in modern day - isolated, lack of females, male dominated culture. Very big court case in 2004 regarding incest/child abuse. But what do you expect from somewhere there were only 47 inhabitants.

They do it here, in Chile. One family has kept it's name going since arriving here in the 1700's, and it's not like Smith, it really is just one family

I wouldn't do it tho because my cousins are all mingers it just seems wrong to me.

Knowing a child who is the result of incest (brother/sister though, not cousin) and the damage that was caused to her directly from that, YADNBU. It's an awful risk to take with any potential children :(

Trois - your usual charming self, I see! The point about gay marriage/cousinly marriage isn't about a correlation between the 2. It's just pointing out that a biologically unwise union (between 2 cousins) is legally preferred by many states to a gay marriage reflecting somewhat badly on the country. Perhaps it was a bit O/T but a friend sent it to me and I was reminded of it when I read this thread.

DH is from a relatively small island community and his parents are quite proud that they aren't actually related.

I think my great grand parents were first cousins. As I understand it, it's ok occasionally, just not if repeatedly. Keep it going and all manner if genetic disabilities as a result.

I find it disgusting!!!, causes all kinds of disabilities. To me it should be made illegal, spread the gene!! x

Good to know I live in a backward country Trois.