What is kinship all about?

The essay explores the concept of kinship, emphasizing its biological foundations and the interplay with sociological structures in child-rearing. It critiques historical perspectives from scholars like Morgan and Gellner, who prioritized biological kinship, while acknowledging exceptions like adoption. The discussion evolves through the contributions of Needham and Schneider, who called for the reevaluation of kinship, and later scholars who examined social kinship through concepts of nurture and care. Carstens introduces a dynamic view of relatedness, questioning the potential emergence of a hybrid kinship model that reconciles biological and social aspects.