Geographical Mobility and Kinship: a Canadian Example.

The article presents a study conducted in Canada, about geographical mobility and kinship. The nuclear family was the important unit in kin relations, there was no evidence of any but equalitarian relations and geographical propinquity was in no case a condition for the existence of ties with kin. The modified extended family is said to provide social, psychological and economic support to its members, despite geographical mobility. The respondents in this study, whether geographically mobile or non-mobile, reported essentially the same kinds of relationships with kin. Two other types of "substantial changes" mentioned, bring out two factors which may be much more significant in disrupting kin relations than geographical mobility. The death of connecting relatives is highly disruptive of relations was also indicated during the course of the study. Mother's siblings were found to be more important than father's siblings for contact and mutual aid. The other factor was specific quarrels. The presented cases suggest that attitudes to kinsmen are by no means directly reflected in behavior.