POL111H5 Lecture Notes - Human Reproduction, Surrogacy
Document Summary
While we all are born from mothers and fathers, it doesn"t change our idea of family, relationships etc. Genes/biology are powerful because we think they are powerful (result of culture) The relationship between these natural facts and the social construction of those facts are constantly changing. (ivf, gene manipulation) Social evolutionary theory: primitive societies can become civilized societies. (evolutionary ladder) Primitive societies were held together by whoever lives close to them. Some societies have an importance on certain relationships. Kinship varied from one society to another, but it was built on the same biological facts. Assume that reproduction is biological and sexual process. The study of kinship was how biological and reproduction played out. Not all societies have kinship (not concerned about it) Idea of kinship and sexual reproduction (that they are linked) are a western idea. He concluded that there is no such thing as kinship studies because it"s a western idea only.
