Western Kinship Case Study

Adoption and challenges in the Anthropological study of western kinship.
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” – James Baldwin
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.
“American Kinship is an example of the kind of kinship system which is found in most modern, western societies. This kind of system is particularly important not only because it is found in an important kind of society, but also because it is different from the kinds of kinship systems found elsewhere in the world.” (Schneider, 1980)
In the book, ‘American Kinship, A Cultural Account’, by David. M. Schneider, we find that he lays down the basic tenets for which a kinship ties, is considered to be

Through this distinction, American Kinship ties can be divided in two groups. First, the “Basic term” and the second is the “Derivative Term”. “Basic Terms” include- “Father”, “Mother”, “Brother”, “Sister”, “Son”, “Daughter”, which signify all relationships that are formed out of natural ties, that is through the connection of a similar, biogenetic make – up. “Derivative Terms” are “Basic Terms” and a modifier. Like, “Father” is a basic term, but the “-in-law” is a modifier. So what Schneider essentially did, was to put down the criteria for which a person can be related, and he highlighted the importance of the exchange of natural substance, for the establishment of a kin tie. He spoke of how, blood ties are interminable, while relations formed out of law, can be. So, in the three sets, that is (1) In Nature, (2) In Law, (3) By Blood ties are formed, either by nature, but not by law, not by nature, but by law, and by both nature and law,