Kinship is used to describe the relationship that exists between or among entities or individuals that share a common origin in terms of culture, historical ancestry or biological relationship. Kinship refers to the relationships defined by a particular culture among or between individuals who have a common family ties. Kinship is used as a basis to classify people and to form social groups in the different societies.
The patterns and rules that govern kinship differ in the various communities all around the world. Kinship, in anthropology, defines relationship of people through marriage (invariably referred to as affinity), and through descent, also known as consanguinity. In most cases, the two classifications overlap, for example relationship among married individuals who have a common descent. For instance, affinity bonds exist among in-laws while consanguinity relationships are evident among parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.
Kinship is used to organize members of the society into different categories, roles and various social groups, based on either parentage, marriage or other types of relationship, (Schneider 2005). Inheritance rights are customarily based on how close kinship relationships are and thus, used to transmit property and status from one generation to another.
On the other hand, fictive kinship is a term used to describe and differentiate the various types of relationships that are not based on blood ties (consanguine) or on marriage (affinity). Fictive kinship is used to describe unreal relationships. An example is the concept of cross-cultural relationships. This type of kinship relationship may also be used legally among societies for example in issues concerning inheritance, (Sarker, 19...
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... fictive kinship have the importance of realizing a well-established social structure in not just among the Akan’s but also to other communities at large.
Works Cited
Brian S. (1995), Akan Lineage Organization, University of Manitoba.
Carsten, Janet, ed. (2000). Cultures of Relatedness: New Approaches to the Study of Kinship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kemper, R. V. (1982). "The Compadrazgo in Urban Mexico." Anthropological Quarterly 55
Magnarella, P, and Turkdogan, O. (1973). "Descent, Affinity, and Ritual Relations in Eastern Turkey." American Anthropologist . New York Press
Sarker, P. (1980). Fictive Kin Relationship in Rural Bangladesh." Eastern Anthropologist 33:55–61.
Schneider D.(2005), A Critique of The Study of Kinship. University of Michigan Press.
http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/tutor/case_studies/akan/lineage.html
Kinship is studied primarily in social and cultural anthropology. While there is no concise definition for what kinship means in the field of anthropology it can generally be thought of as the relationships within a society that are usually based off of blood or marriage. These two things in some way shape or form are recognized in nearly every society. Links of kinship form off the basis of property rights, division of labor, and political organization
Kinship is understood as the relationships in a society through blood and marriage. It is considered a fundamental cultural basis. From kinship systems social norms develop in the communities, including rights and responsibilities, greatly impacting behavior. These systems are described as kinship terms, relationships and groups in a society. Kinship ultimately has two core functions through kinship systems that are crucial for the preservation of culture and societies. First, these ties provide continuation of generations and family formation. The lines of descent, the upbringing and education of children, the compromise to provide material possessions and inheriting social positions are all very important. Second, since kinship is based on interdependent relationships, there are established aid systems. These, however would be compromise by the cultural implications of the extended or nuclear kin groups. Additionally, marriage may or may not be founded by blood relationships. Both the consanguineal and the affinal relationship represents a strong bond. However, the cultural norms would dictate whether both have equal value or acceptance in each society. Anthropologists have studied the implications of kinship. One of the topics researched is between kinship and social relationships. The Awlad ‘Ali Bedouin society in the Western Desert, as studied by Abu-Lughod in 1978-1980, through her ethnography ‘Veiled Sentiments’ (1986), showed distinct evidences of the influence of consanguineal and affinal ties into their idiom of kinship and how it links to their social interactions and relationships. In this way defining the different kinds of social relationships.
Since the beginning of time, mankind began to expand on traditions of life out of which family and societal life surfaced. These traditions of life have been passed down over generations and centuries. Some of these kin and their interdependent ways of life have been upheld among particular people, and are known to contain key pieces of some civilizations.
In 2014 a little over 3 million children in the United States were under the guardianship of a relative other than their parent (Szilagyi, 2014). This agreement is referred to as kinship. Kinship care is defined as the care of children by relatives or close family friends, also known as fictive kin, after they have been removed from biological parents. Relatives are usually looked to as the primary resource of care support because they maintain the child's connections with the family and help to preserve the cultural values of the family. (ChildWelfare.gov) Kinship care is divided into three different categories: informal kinship care, voluntary kinship care, and formal kinship care (child welfare information gateway, 2016).
This essay aims to look at the ways in which traditional western kinship ties were formed, and how, adoption challenges the study of the same.
Native Americans established primary relationships either through a clan system, descent from a common ancestor, or through a friendship system, much like tribal societies in other parts of the world. In the Choctaw nation, " Moieties were subdivided into several nontotemic, exogamous, matrilineal 'kindred' clans, called iksa." (Faiman-Silva, 1997, p.8) The Cheyenne tirbe also traced their ancestry through the woman's lineage. Moore (1996, p. 154) shows this when he says "Such marriages, where the groomcomes to live in the bride's band, are called 'matrilocal'." Leacock (1971, p. 21) reveals that "...prevailing opinion is that hunting societies would be patrilocal.... Matrilineality, it is assumed, followed the emergence of agriculture...." Leacock (p. 21) then stated that she had found the Montagnais-Naskapi, a hunting society, had been matrilocal until Europeans stepped in. "The Tanoan Pueblos kinship system is bilateral. The household either is of the nuclear type or is extended to include relatives of one or both parents...." (Dozier, 1971, p. 237)
In efforts to examine how genealogy evolved into its modern manifestation, Weil’s, Family Trees: A History of Genealogy in America is a “genealogy of genealogy.” Family Trees is a study of genealogy in America and its reciprocal effects on society. Weil divides his book into four chronological regimes of genealogy in America, each presented with their own set of problems. These problems did not just disappear after each
In the novel Waterlily by Ella Cara Deloria, kinship plays a key role in the depiction of Dakota society in the novel. Throughout the novel, kinship is instrumental in the development of community ties and familial relations throughout Dakota society. With her depiction of kinship roles and obligations, Deloria argues that kinship brings honor and interconnectedness between the members of society. Through her portrayal of Waterlily’s communities ties, her view of kinship practices is strengthened through her illustration of the Dakota civilization’s view that kinship practices help extend graciousness throughout their community and create bonds that last throughout generations.
The Inuits valued their families and each member looked out for each other. Kinship typically included three past generations from the paternal as well as maternal sides. These generations were extremely close. The doings of one member were felt as the accountability of the whole group. Small feuds often resulted between different families.
In the last seven years, I have transitioned from a nuclear family to a single parent family to, now, a blended family with a stepfather and stepbrother. All of this while having a self-constructed extended family. In the article, Angier also examined a study that was published in 2010 that interviewed 110 people with ‘voluntary kin.’ The study “found that for some people, voluntary kinship filled a void left by death or estrangement from biological family, while for others the relationships were supplemental or temporary” (23). This also refers to the malleability a family can have. There are so many ways a family can lose members over time such as with death and estrangement, but this quote speaks to the ways ‘voluntary kin’ are included. Sometimes people are added to a family to fill a void lost from another person that has passed away or become estranged. Other times, people become family just from continually being around for one
Traditions are practices/beliefs that are passed down from generation to generation. In traditional African societies, a kinship ties people through birth or marriage. There are two kinds of relationships in customary African tradition; those bound by blood, which are called consanguine, and those constructed by marriage, called affilial. There are four key descents that determine inheritance and marriage. However, the most common descent is patrilineal, which traces ancestry through one's father. While in America, we are vary tolerant of tracing our descent from both parents.
Other members of your biological family are considered extended. There are two main branches of immediate family; blood bonds and legal bonds. A relationship by blood can be determined by following family trees and ancestry. They would include but are not limited to, parents, grandparents, siblings, and children. It also includes extended family such as aunts and uncles. A legal relationship means there is no common DNA shared and is determined by a legal contract. Guardianships and adoptions are classified as legal relationships, as well as marriages uniting a new adult with a non-biological
The old saying goes, “Blood is thicker than water” and in matters of family, men are ready to fight their last battle for their wives and children. Kinship has played a pivotal role in shaping the rise and fall of states. The bond humans have with our kin have brought societies together since the beginning of time. Anthropologist Elman Service defined four levels of political integration- bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and state. As a society’s population grew and territory expanded, the group of kin graduated to the next level.
A family might include anyone related by blood or by adoption such as: step parents, grandparents acting as parents, and even brothers and sisters sharing the same household. However, worldwide “the family is regarded as the most ba...
Incest is not such a clear-cut matter as it has been made out to be over millennia of taboos. Many participants claim to have enjoyed the act and its physical and emotional consequences. It is often the result of seduction. In some cases, two consenting and fully informed adults are involved. Many types of relationships, which are defined as incestuous, are between genetically unrelated parties (a stepfather and a daughter), or between fictive kin or between classificatory kin (that belong to the same matriline or patriline). In certain societies (the American Indians or the Chinese) it is sufficient to carry the same family name (=to belong to the same clan) and marriage is forbidden. Some incest prohibitions relate to sexual acts - other to marriage. In some societies, incest is mandatory or prohibited, according to the social class (Bali). In others, the Royal House started a tradition of incestuous marriages, which were imitated by lower classes (Ancient Egypt). The list is long and it serves to demonstrate the diversity of this most universal taboo. Generally put, we can say that a prohibition to have sex with or marry a related person should be classified as an incest prohibition, no matter the nature of the relationship.