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Sisters and sistering are peculiarly absent from the sociology of the family. Sociologists document women's role as mothers, carers, workers, daughters and wives yet neglect their experiences as sisters. Our knowledge of this widespread tie derives more from media images than from women's own experiences. This article explores several reasons for this marginalization from the sensational depiction of sisters in popular culture as either friends or rivals, and their mythical status in feminist politics, to the specialized interest of psy professionals and policy makers in childhood rivalry and sibling solidarity among the elderly. It reveals the paradox surrounding the silence of sistering as part of family lives and the visibility of sisterhood in the public and sociological imagination. Drawing on a qualitative study of sister relationships among girls and women aged 6-50, it illustrates the complexities of sistering as personal lived experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The qualitatiye study described in this paper considers the social context of school meals in an urban primary school in southern England. The study was designed to provide information about the factors affecting children's food consumption, the contexts in which food is eaten in school and rushed and stressful occasion rather than a pleasant social experience. rerely related to teaching and learning about food in the classroom.Lunch break is too long ... You have twenty minutes in the canteen for your lunch and it's a scramble and you have an hour outside and they lock the classrooms so you have to stay outside1. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]