The social structure of grandparenthood

American Anthropologist • Vol/Iss. 58(4) • Blackwell Publishing Ltd • • Published In • Pages: 656-663 •
By Apple, Dorrian

Abstract

This study reports on a structural analysis which is suggested to confirm and expand upon Nadel's (1951) hypothesis that friendly equality between grandparents and grandchildren appears only with certain patterns of authority in the family.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic Reports

Hypotheses (2)

HypothesisSupported
"For societies in which the relationships of grandchildren are the same with both sets of grandparents, . . . when the grandparental generation continues to exercise considerable authority over the parental generation after the grandchildren are born, the relation of the grandchildren to the grandparents will not be one of friendly equality . . . ; when there is no such authority, there will be friendly equality" (657)Supported
"If the grandchildren's relation with one set of grandparents has less friendly equality than with the other, the former grandparents will be those related to the grandchildren through the parent who possesses (or whose lineage member possesses) more household authority in the nuclear family" (657)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: matthew.g.roth  mas  Jessie Cohen