Sibling Care Among Rural Elderly Widows

Abstract

Siblings of similar age have shared histories, similar concerns and feelings of solidarity. Intimacy and hostility are intertwined in the relationships, while they also complement and substitute parents and children in crisis. In the Indian context, a key to sibling relationships is the obligation of brothers to act as ‘trustees’ of their married sisters and replace friends in rural setting. In southern India, cross-cousin marriages and short marriage distance further cement their bonds and siblings of both genders constitute the core social world for women. But do such traditional patterns continue to operate where women claim equal right to property? To what extent does the support content and strength vary by gender of siblings? What constitutes care and intimacy in sibling relationships? These issues are less explored, and hence, the paper focuses on support transactions between elderly widows and their siblings and the intensity of role relations. The paper is inductive in nature and uses a qualitative methodology. Widows with siblings were interviewed through a semi-structured interview. Findings indicate strong ties between siblings, and brothers play a dominant role until children are married. Situations of strained relationships occur between brothers when expectations of widows are not being met. At later life, both brothers and sisters converge as confidants and companions. Sisters tend to form a thicker bond similar to friends, and brothers provide the ritual and service support. Results will be of particular interest to understand family relationships, elderly care and gender issues.