December 04, 2024
By Haley Dittbrenner ’25
Syllabus is an ongoing series of stories that gives readers an inside look at some of Susquehanna’s most interesting classes.
The Class: Family & Kinship, ANTH-341
The Professor: John Bodinger de Uriarte, anthropology
The definition of family is constantly evolving. John Bodinger de Uriarte’s anthropology course Family & Kinship explores family from the first instances of humans all the way to our contemporary times.
“Theories of kinship are fundamental to the historical trajectory of anthropology,” said Bodinger de Uriarte, professor of anthropology. “While earlier studies of kinship may have approached its framework as applicable to all cultural sites, later understandings have allowed for a wider perspective on how people reckon who is kin and what might determine their respective rights and responsibilities.”
The coursework in this class delves into the intricate structures and functionalities of family and kinship across various cultures. It underscores the shifts over time, both historical and contemporary, in understanding and practices related to family dynamics, marriage, procreation and kinship within the United States. Special attention is paid to the cultural shaping of kinship, the establishment of identity and distinctions, and the intricate politics surrounding reproduction.
Bodinger de Uriarte, who has taught the class for over 20 years, updates the material in each iteration of the class to reflect current events. As government policies change concerning issues such as parental rights, genetic testing and assisted reproductive technology, so do the class reading assignments, which Bodinger described as in-depth, thoughtful and often provocative. By reading up on hot-button issues from multiple perspectives, Bodinger de Uriarte hopes students will define for themselves what family means in the modern United States.
“I have learned a wide variety of concepts pertaining to family patterns, kinship, how an individual’s demographics can shape their experience, and how social, cultural, state, global and political forces shape and transform family and kinship,” said Abbey Mooney ’25, a psychology major from Warrior Run, Pennsylvania.
She also said the course has improved her critical thinking skills and that the concepts discussed in class has helped her form and articulate more knowledgeable opinions and understand the societal issues and cultural implications that are tied to them.
Mooney plans to pursue clinical psychology after graduating, and she believes the Family & Kinship course prepared her well for that path.
“From what I have learned and the skills I have developed from this class, I will be able to better understand the sociocultural forces that influence people’s lives,” Mooney said, “and how these forces may impact my future clients’ lives, which will allow me to be better able to help them.