Overview

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.

Full Product Details

9781481323383

Table of Contents

Reviews

This place of kinship is a major role in the lives of many young people as they grow, and Laura Ellingson and Patricia J. Sotirin provide an expert analysis of this dynamic and its importance. Aunting is a fascinating twist on familial life, and makes for a very highly recommended read. -- ""Midwest Book Review""

Author Information

Patricia J. Sotirin is Professor of Communication at Michigan Technological University and co-author of Where the Aunts Are - Family, Feminism, and Kinship in Popular Culture with Laura L. Ellingson. Laura L. Ellingson is Patrick the A. Donohoe, S.J. Professor of Communication at Santa Clara University and co-author of Where the Aunts Are - Family, Feminism, and Kinship in Popular Culture with Patricia J. Sotirin.

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