Anthropology of kinship

The anthropology of kinship studies how humans define, organize, and understand familial relationships and social connections. It explores how different cultures recognize relationships through blood, marriage, or adoption, shaping social roles, obligations, and identities. By examining kinship systems, anthropologists learn how societies structure family life, inheritance, and social cohesion, revealing diverse ways communities create bonds and social order beyond mere biology. This field helps us understand the cultural meanings and functions behind family relationships across various societies.