Relative Strangers and the Paradoxes of Genetic Kinship

Abstract

Judging from these quotations it would seem that the concept of the gene is now part of everyday thinking. The terms ‘gene’ or ‘genetic’ are routinely invoked when talking about family relationships, reproduction and children. These terms are in everyday use; in fact some now refer to the geneticisation of society because, in Western cultures, we seem to explain everything from aggression, intelligence, talent, appearance, taste, sexual orientation and health in terms of our genes (Haraway, 1997). But, if we look closely at these short quotations selected from the many remarks on genes made in the course of our interviews, it is possible to see that what genes are and what genes do is not terribly clear in people’s thinking. The only elements that can be said to be a constant feature in these remarks are the thing-like quality of the gene and the gene’s capacity to be very significant. This boils down to the idea that everyone has genes, everyone can share their genes with the next generation if they have children, and these genes matter. Beyond that point, understanding seems to blur and, as we showed in the previous chapter, there are very different kinds of consequences that flow from disparate beliefs about exactly how these genes work and how much they matter.

Zoe: I thought, actually no, if I got the chance, I would like to pass on my genes. (202)

Michelle: It sounds like I’ve got really bad genes; I haven’t got bad genes at all. (118)

Nina: Because I think what we believe is that genetics isn’t just about genes. Do you know what I mean? (116)

Norman: Yeah but we don’t go — nobody goes around picking their parents by looking at their gene pool do they? (415)

Victoria: But put it like this: the way they interact with the children, you would never know there wasn’t a genetic link. (212)

Linda: Yeah, we know that the genes work, as well. You know, the genes work well together. (111)

Theresa: But the thing is you don’t know why a child develops like it does, because the genes are in it and I want an explanation of the genes. (303)