Are you a kinkeeper? Looking into the art — and work — of keeping people together

Originally defined by sociologist Carolyn Rosenthal as the “efforts expended on behalf of keeping family members in touch with one another", if you're the one creating the WhatsApp group, then the answer is yes, says Suzanne Harrington

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Are you always the one to let everyone else know the date and place of family get togethers? Gets in touch to say which relative has just had a baby, who has recently got married, graduated, got a new job? Who has moved house, or split up? Who is ill or has died? Who needs a thank-you card, a congratulations card, a condolences card? Whose birthday it is next? Which special occasion is coming up? Which presents to bring?

If you’re the one creating the Whatsapp group, you’re doing what sociologists call “kinkeeping”. Originally defined by sociologist Carolyn Rosenthal in 1985 as the “efforts expended on behalf of keeping family members in touch with one another”, chances are that if you are a kinkeeper, you are also a woman. No surprises there. A 1996 study showed how 85% of kinkeepers were women in mid life, aged mostly between 40 and 69, although some were older. Only the methods of communication have moved on — according to a recent Psychology Today study, 27% of kinkeeping is done by text, 22% by phone, 19% on social media, 17% by email, and just 8% face to face.