American Kinship

David Schneider's American Kinship (1968) is a foundational anthropological study that views kinship as a cultural system based on shared symbols and meanings, rather than solely on strategic interests. Schneider proposed that "blood" was the central symbol of kinship in the United States, characterizing kin ties as bonds of "diffuse, enduring solidarity" stemming from both "natural substance" (blood ties) and a "code for conduct".1

This approach challenged earlier assumptions that kinship was less important in Western societies and separable from other social institutions. Schneider's work highlighted the cultural perceptions of kinship, contrasting the "natural" basis of blood ties with legally defined marital bonds. While influential, American Kinship has been critiqued for presenting a homogenized view of kinship, overlooking variations based on class, gender, age, and ethnicity. Subsequent studies have retained the culturalist approach while emphasizing local experiences and diverse understandings of kinship.1