parentescas

Parentescas, or kinship, refers to the social connections derived from blood, marriage, or adoption that link individuals into family groups. In anthropology and sociology, kinship is a fundamental organizing principle of society, shaping rights, responsibilities, and identity. Kinship can be traced through consanguinity (blood relations) and affinity (relations through marriage), as well as adoptive ties in some legal contexts.

A kinship system normally defines categories such as parents, siblings, grandparents, and more distant relatives, with specialized terms for different relationships that reflect cultural norms. The concept uses degrees or relational proximity to describe how closely people are related. In many cultures, kinship extends beyond the nuclear family to include extended networks such as uncles, aunts, cousins, and in-laws, and may organize obligations like care, support, or succession.

Legal and civil contexts use parentesco to determine rights and duties, including inheritance, guardianship, marriage eligibility, and succession rules. Different jurisdictions define legal degrees of consanguinity and affinity in distinct ways, which can affect who may marry, who may inherit, or who constitutes a dependent.

In research and comparative literature, kinship terminology varies widely across languages and cultures, often reflecting social structure, residence patterns, and lineage organization. Understanding parentescas helps explain family structure, social integration, and cultural identity across societies.