Do you have anything in your family that has been handed down, perhaps by your grandparents or other relatives? Think hard. Sociologists argue that these practices of passing on mundane, material objects through kinship networks can become an important part of the ‘doing’ of family and kinship. Objects are also often passed on between living kin to ensure their continued use.
The sociologist Helen Holmes (2019) argues that these everyday items are retained because they hold some sentimental significance, but also because of their use value. In other words, they still work and they still ‘do the job’. In fact, the sentiment and symbolism associated with such objects is often brought to life because of their continued use. They might be spades, bread knives or patched up articles of clothing, found in sheds, kitchens and wardrobes. They can be significant to the making and doing of kinship.
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