Rin Reczek, The Ohio State University

Abstract: Family of origin estrangement, or going “no contact” with a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other extended kin members, has become an issue of intense public conversation and growing scholarly attention. Drawing on 68 in-depth interviews with adults who have estranged from a family of origin member, Reczek argues in this talk that contemporary family estrangement is indicative of a sociological culture clash in the very meaning and expectations of family in the US. This clash is between the culture of “compulsory kinship”—which demands the family is unconditionally forever—and a rivaling family culture of “democratized kinship” – wherein family’s continuation depends on the quality of a tie.  Reczek shows that family estrangement is the symptom of family problems, not the disease; the outcome of failing families, not the cause.