Kinship refers to the culturally defined relationships between individuals who are

commonly thought of as having family ties. All societies use kinship as a basis for
forming social groups and for classifying people. However, there is a great amount of
variability in kinship rules and patterns around the world. In order to understand social
interaction, attitudes, and motivations in most societies, it is essential to know how their
kinship systems function.

In many societies, kinship is the most important social organizing principle along with
gender and age. Kinship also provides a means for transmitting status and property
from generation to generation. It is not a mere coincidence that inheritance rights
usually are based on the closeness of kinship links.

Kinship connections are in turn based on two categories of

bonds: those created by marriage and those that result
from descent , which is socially recognized links
between ancestors and descendants.

Your husband or wife, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-

North American family in-law, and sister-in-law are all kinsmen related to you
through marriage. They have an affinity bond with you and are your affines or
affinal relatives. In contrast, people who have socially recognized biological links to
you, such as your mother, father, grandparents, children, grandchildren, uncles, aunts,
and cousins, are your consanguines or consanguinal relatives. They have a
consanguinity relationship with you.

The word "consanguinity" comes from Latin roots meaning "with the
blood." It is a term that came into use during earlier times in Europe
when it was commonly thought that blood is passed between parents
and children during conception and that this is how they receive their
genetic characteristics. This is not true, despite that fact that we still talk
about "blood relatives." The actual genetic material that we inherit
consists of microscopic DNA molecules within sperm and ova. These
contain the genes that determine what we are like genetically.

Occasionally, a third category of bond, referred to as fictive kinship ,

Masai Elder
is used to create links to people who otherwise would not be kinsmen.
with his
This can be an expedient for dealing with irregular circumstances or even children in
a mere social courtesy. Godparenthood and the adoption of children are Kenya
examples of fictive relationships in European cultures. Godparenting has
been particularly important in Latin America where friends voluntarily create lasting ties
of shared responsibility for their children--they become respected compadres (co-
fathers) or comadres (co-mothers).
It is important to remember that people often use different kin terms when addressing
someone directly in contrast to when they are referring to them in a conversation with
someone else. In North America today, for instance, it is common for people to call
their mother "mom" when talking to her but to use the more formal "mother" when
talking about her. In this case, "mom" is a term of address and "mother" is a term of
reference.