Introduction
A traditional proverb that has been recited in familial circles to reinforce the ties of kin has been “blood is thicker than water,” saying that no one will love and stand by another in the same way family would. Family is indispensable, family is forever, family is unconditional love. In recent years, this proverb has been modified, its etymology unconfirmed, but it says instead that the “blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” This is to say that the “water of the womb,” which implies biological ties, is not as strong as ties of a covenant, those one chose to surround themselves with, as opposed to who they were born with. This revised version would dictate that blood relationships, such as those with parents …show more content…
Blood ties are not necessarily weak, but it is indisputable that sometimes blood ties falter, and under pressure, they wither, leaving genetics as the only source of connection between “family” members as all other points of connection dissipate. Unconditional love is not always so unconditional. This could occur for a number of reasons. Among many is marginalization of an individual from family for being deviant. One such instance is when individuals do not conform to the generally perpetrated cis-hetero …show more content…
Ritualizing their relationships around shared symbols creates an interactional energy present develops so that it mimics kin energy that may be absent in their lives. Members of the gay community “use ritual creatively to solidify relationships and affirm identities in the absence of social or legal validation,” according to Oswald, “by promoting commitment between people who love each other, as well as family and community recognition of that love and commitment, these rituals provide a kind of symbolic scaffolding to strengthen relationships” (379). This is important to note, that though fictive kin relationships resemble kin relationships, the development of these relationships have been identified as an extension of friendship, a natural progression of sorts, “rather than viewing the two as competitors…it was not unusual for a gay man or lesbian to speak of another as family in one breath and friend in the next” (Weston 118). Furthermore, Hines says it is evident in how individuals speak of their friends, “Within these narratives of intimate relationships, a ‘friendship ethic’ (Weeks et al, 2001) is evident. Relationships with friends are articulated as being central to intimate lives and friendship is located as a key site of emotional care”
A traditional proverb that has been recited in familial circles to reinforce the ties of kin has been “blood is thicker than water,” saying that no one will love and stand by another in the same way family would. Family is indispensable, family is forever, family is unconditional love. In recent years, this proverb has been modified, its etymology unconfirmed, but it says instead that the “blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” This is to say that the “water of the womb,” which implies biological ties, is not as strong as ties of a covenant, those one chose to surround themselves with, as opposed to who they were born with. This revised version would dictate that blood relationships, such as those with parents …show more content…
Blood ties are not necessarily weak, but it is indisputable that sometimes blood ties falter, and under pressure, they wither, leaving genetics as the only source of connection between “family” members as all other points of connection dissipate. Unconditional love is not always so unconditional. This could occur for a number of reasons. Among many is marginalization of an individual from family for being deviant. One such instance is when individuals do not conform to the generally perpetrated cis-hetero …show more content…
Ritualizing their relationships around shared symbols creates an interactional energy present develops so that it mimics kin energy that may be absent in their lives. Members of the gay community “use ritual creatively to solidify relationships and affirm identities in the absence of social or legal validation,” according to Oswald, “by promoting commitment between people who love each other, as well as family and community recognition of that love and commitment, these rituals provide a kind of symbolic scaffolding to strengthen relationships” (379). This is important to note, that though fictive kin relationships resemble kin relationships, the development of these relationships have been identified as an extension of friendship, a natural progression of sorts, “rather than viewing the two as competitors…it was not unusual for a gay man or lesbian to speak of another as family in one breath and friend in the next” (Weston 118). Furthermore, Hines says it is evident in how individuals speak of their friends, “Within these narratives of intimate relationships, a ‘friendship ethic’ (Weeks et al, 2001) is evident. Relationships with friends are articulated as being central to intimate lives and friendship is located as a key site of emotional care”