Is it ok to marry your cousin?

Answer 1

No it's very very wrong.

Answer 2

It depends on the jurisdiction. All I really know is Indiana (where I live) and Hawai'i. In Indiana, the closest relationship that the bride and groom can be is normally second cousin (having a common great-grandparent). However, if both person are over the age of 65, first cousins are allowed to marry. In Hawai'i, first cousins may marry regardless of age.

Is it really that bad? The concern is of recessive genes with negative qualities. However, the probability that a recessive gene passes from a common ancestor to both partners is rather low as it halves each generation. For second cousins, this would mean a one in sixteen chance that their children would have one of the genes, and 1 in 256 that the recessive trait emerges. That's probably no worse off than the general population.

I'm not advocating that second cousins go off and marry, but the risks for their prodigy are overstated in my opinion.

Answer 3

Sure, it's only a recent idea that it's immoral or ilegal. It was done for thousands of years and we are all fine.

2 unrelated people have like a 5% chance of a baby with developmental problems, first cousins have a 6% chance.

Closer relatives do have a much higher chance of problems, not sure how much though, sorry.

Another site has diff stats:
Children of non-related couples have a 2-3% risk of birth defects, as opposed to first cousins having a 4-6% risk.
The National Society of Genetic Counselors estimated the increased risk for first cousins is between 1.7 to 2.8 percent, or about the same as any woman over 40 years of age.

Answer 4

Today - no of course not (is it even legal??) The reason back in the day that people married into their own family is actually kind of understanding (no I dont condone it - but I can understand) Did you know that FDR and Eleanor were (5th) cousins?? Anyway - back then it was normal because the different classes of people stayed together. Meaning today you can go to a BBQ and there will be all different kinds of people with all different backgrounds. Back in the day it wasn't so diverse - the very rich hung out with the very rich and the very poor stayed with the very poor. Since there were only so many choices of people -- it was very common to fall in love with a cousin because you just simply never met anyone else.

Answer 5

Yes, in most cases (and states) now it is legal to marry a cousin, even a first cousin. If families have genetic diseases and disorders and a lot of them intermarry, the chances of the offspring having problems is greater, but otherwise your children will probably not have any problems, other than the normal odds.

Answer 6

It depends on where you are living. In many countries it is forbidden by law. In my country, fortunately, it's allowed (a friend of mine married her cousin and they've been happy together now for many years)

So, I'd say, it really depends on where you are living. Unfortunately in many countries it's considered "incest".

Edition: After having read that a lot of people think that first cousins will have "stupid" children I can assure you that's not the case.

I've met a lot of people in my country who *are* children of first cousins and they are perfectly normal, or even very clever - as are my friends children :-)

There are a lot of prejudices flying around and I'm really shocked to read that so many people still think that children of such relationships will be malformed. That's nonsense. I never saw a child that was malformed only because it had first-cousins as parents...

Answer 7

It depends on how close a relation your cousin is. First cousins, say, your dad's brother's daughter, for example, are too close to your own bloodline to add enough diversity to your gene-pool, and if you were to have children together, they would have a high risk of being born with gene-related abnormalities. Second cousins (first cousin's first cousin) are further away gene-wise so present a lower risk. The more distant the relation, the less risk there is.

Answer 8

During the Regency Era (before the Victorian times) people married their first cousins all the time, but then slowly it died down and less and less people married their cousins.

Nowadays, only certain cultures, and communities marry their cousins, but it's very rare, and almost non-existant marrying your cousin in Western society.

Answer 9

well it is not ok by my morals but according to the Indiana state constitution you can marry your cousin if you are both over the age of 65. I don't happen to agree. Most states have laws against it. so no it is not ok to marry your cousin.

Answer 10

yeah,sure its ok if you love them and you've tried all you can not to.It depends on the vicar and the church.I knew cousins who married and are still very happy although the down side is that they can never have children together which is a shame because they love each other sooo much.Go for it mate,theres worse things to worry about in the world.As long as it makes you happen then yes 100%

Answer 11

It is perfectly legal to marry your cousin, although there are some taboos in the UK regarding this...the thing you do have to seriously consider is that there is a higher percentage of the possibility of genetical problems with any children you have...I wish you every happiness whatever your choice