Kinship, Dawn D

Blood is thicker than water, means exactly what it says. "Blood is thicker than water" is a recognizable proverb that has surpassed the test of time. The generally accepted interpretation of blood is thicker than water is that the bond of those related by blood is stronger than the bond of marriage or friendship. This phrase is usually used to remind family members that their allegiance should always remain with their family first, and outside acquaintences second.

This is most commonly used to imply that the bonds between family (blood) are more important (thicker) than those formed with friends (water).

An example of the distinction between, Consanguinity is to be distinguished from affinity, which is the relation of a person, through marriage, to the consanguineous relatives of a spouse. Relation by the bond of blood is called consanguineous kinship such as parents and their children and between children of same parents. Thus son, daughter, brother, sister, paternal uncle etc are consanguineous kin. Each of these is related through blood. Kinship due to marriage is affinal kinship. New relations are created when marriage takes place. Not only man establishes relationship with the girl and the members of her but also family members of both the man and the woman get bound among themselves. Kinship includes Agnates; cognates and bandhus.

Some distinctions on my own views would be knowing who I can rely on to speak with if I experience a problem that only the closest of people should ever know. Typically family won't run and tell the world but you can't always count on that. There are things I have told my husband and I know he would keep quiet about over my own blood. I realize that consanguinity is a bond that will never be out weighed by Affinity. Naturally regardless of marriage you will always be closer to your immediate family, but in my own opinion everyone will have there own opinion on who they can rely on and who not. There are times when blood is not always thicker than water, i see this more so with military men, they look at each other as family and even sometimes put them ahead of there own family.