Kinship

Question 1

Essay Question

Answer 1

What implications does the understanding of kinship carry, and what is the role of the anthropologist, considering new reproductive technologies

Question 2

Essay Plan

Answer 2

Introduction; Kinship Definition; Early Kinship in Anthropology; Problems with Definitions; Definitions in Law; New Reproductive Technologies; Role of Anthropology; Conclusion

Question 3

Introduction

Answer 3

I will examine cultural ideas about conception and reproduction, and how basic categories of parent and child have been reconfigured by new reproductive technologies
The State and kinship were seen as unrelated however modern state must now consider kinship considering reproductive rights and laws.

Question 4

Kinship Definition

Answer 4

Nuclear family is the most fundamental and distinct, it is founded in the concepts of parentage and marriage and more important in its level of specificity than other institutions (Barnes, 1967)

Question 5

Early Kinship in Anthropology

Answer 5

Malinowski said family was universal due to the function of child bearing and raising and emotional bonds.
This was queried for lack of distinction between family and household
Radcliffe Brown proposed the elementary family, which didn’t require cohabitation, and the household.

Question 6

Problems with Definitions

Answer 6

Henrietta Moore (feminist) criticised early kinship definitions as too simply to describe.
Family and household are too difficult to separate clearly
Kinship is combination of social and mental realities between abstract terminology and concrete individuals in kinship relations (Godelier, 1998)
Between these poles lie all economic, political and symbolic states.
Can we impose these categories universally, would we be better using indigenous terms?

Question 7

Definitions in Law

Answer 7

Deceased Wife’s Sister’s Marriage Act - prohibition thought to be from Christian marriage sacrament which joined couples as one flesh (Anderson, 1982)
This suggests incest however completely cultural law (Simpson, 2006)

Question 8

New Reproductive Technologies

Answer 8

The Warnock Report (1984) - examine social, ethical and legal implications of recent and potential developments in the field of human assisted reproduction. (Riviere, 1985)
AID donor could be required to pay child maintenance
IVF surrogacy third party egg, which mother has the last say
Bonds over genetics
Biology and Nature no longer clear cut relations (Carsten, 2003)
Diane Blood’s, husband sperm taken while on death bed
Rabbi’s AID risk of incest - non Rabbi donor only
Anna found out she was adopted, looks for parents

Question 9

Role of Anthropology

Answer 9

Affinity is relationships created of free election, Relatives can be in-law but can become ex-wife.
Consanguinity is legal notion rooted in genetics, assumes ‘blood’ more authentic and reliable judge.
Highly visible tension between because of new reproductive technologies, Biologically can be read socially as much as the other way round (nuclear to the unclear) (Simpson, 2006)
Clear that decision cannot be based purely on scientific data, when life starts is subjective.
Social Anthropology has role to show that what we take as ‘naturally right’ is simply our own cultural constraint
It might help if we removed our cultural blinkers then surrogate mothers might not appear to be the threat to civilisation (Riviere, 1985)

Question 10

Conclusion

Answer 10

Stress that cultural things and laws may not be the best
Genetic mutation does not hold as only thing against incest, (Down’s syndrome), culturally skewed outlooks may unfairly discriminate