Structure of K. Levi-Strauss's kinship: theory and critiques

Abstract

The article shows that the harsh feminist critique of kinship structure proposed by K. Levi-Strauss, does not correspond to the superficiality of reading and misunderstanding of the essence and perspectives of ideas proposed by scientist. Although some of them could, under certain conditions, form the basis for theories of female oppression, the generally well-established structure of kinship has significant potential for explaining family relationships and thus becomes a conceptual basis for refuting educational programs that implicitly discriminate against both men and women. In particular, the scientist argued that the basis of sociality is typical of early societies exchange of women. This practice as a form of initial communication has nothing to do with the oppression of women. On the contrary, it expresses the group's readiness to communicate and share unconditional values. Given that in primitive societies, men usually exchange women, the basic structure of kinship according to K. Levi-Strauss can be reduced to four main elements: brother, sister, father, son. The relationship between them sets the basic models of family relations, because, as proved by the example of numerous field studies of K. Levi-Strauss, is subject to constant social grammar. According to it, the relationship between a mother's brother and a nephew is as related to the relationship between a brother and a sister as the relationship between a father and a son is related to a relationship between a husband and wife. That is, knowing the peculiarities of the relationship in one known pair, we can draw conclusions about the relationship in another pair. The revealed social grammar has a serious explanatory potential in the process of analysis of modern family relations, although in the modern world due to the strengthening of patriarchal ties, the uncle's marital status has significantly depreciated and become symbolic. After all, despite the shortcomings and possible deviations, this gives grounds to refute the widespread in modern intellectual discourse claims about the fundamental role of women in shaping the emotional and psychological atmosphere in a family in which both sexes are equal.