Braydon Sorensen

Ms. Crapo
FHS-2400-404-F15
August 28, 2015
Unit 1, Essay 1
QUESTION
OPTION B: KINSHIP
What are the different kinship roles - such as nephew, aunt or uncle, in-law, grandson or
granddaughter - that you play as a result of being a member of your extended family? What
rights and obligations does each of these roles entail in your family? Do you have any fictive
kin? How did they become "like family"?

ANSWER
Family is great for many reasons. One of the reasons I enjoy being a part of a family is
because I get the opportunity to play many different kinship roles throughout my extended
family. I am a nephew, a grandson, an in-law, and a cousin! The part that I play in my family
members lives vary depending on what my kinship role is to them.
While all of the roles that I play in my family have their benefits, my favorite roles are
being a grandson and a cousin. My grandparents have played a huge role in my life. I lived with
them for a few years when I was younger, which makes them like parents to me. I enjoy being a
grandson because I love being helpful. I look forward to the opportunity to help my
grandparents with anything they ask. It gives me great joy to be of service to them, especially
considering how great of an impact they have had on my entire family.
I am the second oldest grandchild in my family, which makes me one of the oldest
cousins. Being one of the older cousins gives me the opportunity to share my advice and wisdom
to my younger cousins. I have been able to help many of my cousins, especially my fifteen year
old cousin, with many different trials and situations he has been in. I love that they feel
comfortable coming to me for help and advice. The fact that they look up to me the way that
they do make me feel like I have made a difference in their lives, and adds a level of
responsibility on my part to be a good example to them.
Being a nephew is one of the most fun kinship roles that I play. I have such a great
relationship with my aunts and uncles. I feel like I can go to them for anything, and they will
always be there for me. I have always been open with them, and feel I can tell them anything. It
is great to have an adult to talk to that doesnt necessarily feel like a parent figure. Even in the

absence of sharing a household, extended kin may be important figures in your life and enrich
your family experiences beyond the nuclear household. (Strong & Cohen, 2014, p. 17)
The role of an in-law is relatively new to me. I have been married for almost a year, and
am still working on forming a relationship with my in-laws. I enjoy having a second set of
parents as well as two new siblings, but my conjugal relationships are much different than my
consanguineous relationships. (Strong & Cohen, 2014, p. 17-18) I feel I have the obligation to
get close to my in-laws because they are my wifes family, and have been trying my hardest to
bond with them. I have found it easy to talk to and bond with my mother-in-law and sister-inlaw, and am working on finding common interests with my father-in-law and brother-in-law.
One of my dads very best friends acts as a fictive kin in my family. She has been friends
with our family for as long as I can remember, and almost plays the role of an aunt to my siblings
and me. She is at my fathers house almost every day, and comes with us on most family
vacations and outings. I would also consider my dog as an affiliated kin. She is my first child!
I care about her more than I care about myself, and try and make her days as great as possible.
Being related by blood or through marriage is not always sufficient to be counted as a family
member or kin. (Strong & Cohen, 2014, p. 11)

Reference list
Strong, B, & Cohen, T. F. (2014). The marriage and family experience: Intimate relationships in
a changing society (12th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.