Children in Between: Fostering and the Process of Kinship on Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia

Abstract

A social anthropologist analyzes kinship on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia. Specifically she examines the way it is developed in and through conception and nurturance of children among the islanders. On this island eating together and sharing in the household are ideas that are as basic as are those about procreation. Further these ideas are especially identified with siblingship. Siblingship means those children originating from 1 household. But children pass much of their lives between houses. In fact they play the role of key mediators of exchanges such as exchanges of baked goods and fresh produce between households. This role is particularly evident in extensive fostering set ups. These arrangements serve to convert ties based on something other than blood relationships into consanguineal ties. Further they maintain equality between coparents-in-law. Indeed children are points of transformation between the 2 opposite images of community: unity of the house and the plurality of exchange between houses. In conclusion children personify the kinship process through their growth and movement.