Aunting: Cultural Practices That Sustain Family and Community Life
Role
Laura L. Ellingson (Author)
Patricia J. Sotirin (Author)
Files
Download Full Text
Description
Whether related by biology, marriage, circumstance, or choice, aunts embody a uniquely flexible familial role. The aunt-niece/nephew relationship--though often overlooked--is critical and complex, one that appears at the core of a resilient, healthy family life. In this engaging book, Laura Ellingson and Patricia Sotirin construct a consideration of "aunts" that moves from noun to verb. "Aunts" is more than a group of people or a role; instead, "to aunt" is a practice, something people "do." Some women "aunt" as second mothers, friends, or mentors, while others play more peripheral roles. In either case, aunts nonetheless significantly impact their nieces and nephews' life choices. Drawing on personal narratives that represent a rich cross section of society, Ellingson and Sotirin construct a cohesive story of the diversity of aunting experiences in the contemporary United States. Skillfully written, Aunting recovers the enormous potential of this dynamic kinship relationship and offers a model for understanding and supporting the variety of families in society today.
ISBN
978-1602581524
Publication Date
7-29-2010
Publisher
Baylor University Press
Recommended Citation
Ellingson, Laura L. and Sotirin, Patricia J., "Aunting: Cultural Practices That Sustain Family and Community Life" (2010). Faculty Book Gallery. 337.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/faculty_books/337