As I create short biographies of each doll,
and relate snippets of histories and herstories,
"family" and "relationship" and "kinship" and "belonging" and "adoption"
are uppermost in my mind.
What constitutes a "family"?
Blood lines?
Laws and statutes which govern marriage, civil union, and adoption?
Many institutions use familial terms to designate relationship, commitment and hierarchy.
'Father', 'Mother', 'Sister' 'Brother' are used throughout the Catholic Church.
My sister/my brother in Christ is used in evangelical Christian churches.
And these are powerful, meaningful, lasting relationships.
They often reflect a sense of belonging.
Perhaps, too, they also reflect outdated concepts of men having ownership of women and children.
In the community where I live,
I often hear 'sis' or 'bro', 'aunty' or 'uncle'
even when there is no familial connection.
They are terms of endearment and relationship,
often inter-generational,
sometimes geographical or tribal.
On-line,
relational and familial terms are used often.
Friends or not friends?
Likes or not likes?
There are chat rooms,
and closed social media groups,
all creating a sense of belonging and connection.
Perhaps meeting real needs not met in the 'real world'.
The increasing use of DNA tests to find out our ancestry
is challenging our narrow notions of nationalism and border control.
How can we exclude those who are genetically related to us?
How can we slaughter communities that shelter our 'blood sisters and brothers'?
How can we allow women
to be demeaned, mutilated, excluded, shunned, exploited, abandoned,
when these women may be our genetic sisters, mothers, aunts?
My notion of family is being challenged by this project.
How do I live this expanded definition with integrity?
and relate snippets of histories and herstories,
"family" and "relationship" and "kinship" and "belonging" and "adoption"
are uppermost in my mind.
What constitutes a "family"?
Blood lines?
Laws and statutes which govern marriage, civil union, and adoption?
Many institutions use familial terms to designate relationship, commitment and hierarchy.
'Father', 'Mother', 'Sister' 'Brother' are used throughout the Catholic Church.
My sister/my brother in Christ is used in evangelical Christian churches.
And these are powerful, meaningful, lasting relationships.
They often reflect a sense of belonging.
Perhaps, too, they also reflect outdated concepts of men having ownership of women and children.
In the community where I live,
I often hear 'sis' or 'bro', 'aunty' or 'uncle'
even when there is no familial connection.
They are terms of endearment and relationship,
often inter-generational,
sometimes geographical or tribal.
On-line,
relational and familial terms are used often.
Friends or not friends?
Likes or not likes?
There are chat rooms,
and closed social media groups,
all creating a sense of belonging and connection.
Perhaps meeting real needs not met in the 'real world'.
The increasing use of DNA tests to find out our ancestry
is challenging our narrow notions of nationalism and border control.
How can we exclude those who are genetically related to us?
How can we slaughter communities that shelter our 'blood sisters and brothers'?
How can we allow women
to be demeaned, mutilated, excluded, shunned, exploited, abandoned,
when these women may be our genetic sisters, mothers, aunts?
My notion of family is being challenged by this project.
How do I live this expanded definition with integrity?
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