BRINGING THE UNCLEAR FAMILY INTO FOCUS - DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE IN CONTEMPORARY BRITAIN

Divorce is an increasingly common feature of 'family life' in contempo rary western society. Yet, the kinship implications of divorce have sc arcely been considered by anthropologists. This article argues that di vorce creates important patterns of social continuity as well as estab lishing discontinuities. These patterns are shaped by a complex interp lay of state concern and private interests. Through the use of detaile d narratives, the article illustrates how the re-ordering of kinship r elationships which divorce necessitates is conducted in different cult ural and socio-economic circumstances. It identifies important links b etween the availability of material resources after divorce and the ab ility for divorced people to maintain continuity in kin relationships.