Kinkeeping

Kinkeeping is the act of maintaining and strengthening familial ties. It is a form of emotional labor done both out of a sense of obligation and because of emotional attachment.^[1] Kinkeepers play an important role in maintaining family cohesion and continuity. Their efforts contribute significantly to the family's social capital, providing emotional support and a sense of belonging to family members.^[2][1]

Preparing traditional holiday foods, such as gingerbread men, for family gatherings is a form of kinkeeping.

Sociologist Carolyn Rosenthal defined the term in her 1985 article, "Kinkeeping in the Familial Division of Labor".^[3]

Activities

Kinkeeping activities primarily involve facilitating communication between family members and preparing for family gatherings.^[4]

Kinkeeping activities help extended family members of differing households stay in touch with one another and strengthen intergenerational bonds.^[2][4] It facilitates the transfer of family traditions, values, and histories from one generation to the next.^[5] Families with active kinkeepers tend to feel more connected as a family.^[4]

Kinkeeping methods may include telephone calls, writing letters, visiting, sending gifts, acting as a caregiver for disabled or infirm family members, or providing economic aid.^[3][1] They may plan family gatherings and holiday events.^[4] Maintaining family traditions, such as preparing particular foods for holidays, is a form of kinkeeping.^[4]

Kinkeeping tends to be time-consuming.^[4] The kinkeepers may enjoy their role, or they may find it burdensome.^[4] They may also feel like their work, which often happens in the background, is not recognized or appreciated.^[4]

Gender roles

Women are more likely to act as kinkeepers than men and often organize family events and reunions.^[3] A 2006 survey of Americans found that women reported more contact with relatives than men in every age group.^[6] A 2017 study found that more than 90% of self-identified kinkeepers were women.^[4]