An Introduction

This fully revised seventh edition of Kinship and Gender: An Introduction explores how family structures continue to influence the varied roles that men and women play in different cultures. It is essential reading for students taking their first steps into anthropology, gender studies, and sociology.

This fully revised seventh edition of Kinship and Gender: An Introduction explores kinship in today’s globalized, increasingly mobile world, and how family structures continue to influence the varied roles that men and women play in different cultures.

Written to engage students, each chapter provides key terms and useful generalizations gleaned through research on the interplay of kinship and gender in both traditional societies and contemporary communities. Detailed case studies and cross-cultural examples help students understand how such generalizations are experienced in real life. The authors also consider the ramifications of current social problems and recent developments in reproductive technology as they demonstrate the relevance of kinship and gender to students’ lives. The new edition contains a revised introduction highlighting the disaggregation of marriage and reproduction; new sections on third gender, nonbinary, and trans identities; new case studies on spiritual kinship; as well as explorations of genetic and ancestral kinship paradigms, new reproductive technologies, and a more robust global perspective throughout. Pedagogical features include suggestions for classroom media, a glossary, an appendix, and downloadable PowerPoint slides.

Kinship and Gender: An Introduction provides a broad, yet nuanced introduction to the field, and is essential reading for students taking their first steps into anthropology, gender studies, and sociology.