Janet Carsten

About the Author

Janet Carsten is a distinguished anthropologist whose work explores the intricate dynamics of kinship, family, and social relations across diverse cultures. Drawing from extensive fieldwork in Southeast Asia and beyond, she examines how everyday practices and material environments shape human connections and identities. Her research challenges conventional notions of relatedness, highlighting the fluidity and creativity inherent in social bonds. With a career spanning decades, Carsten has contributed profoundly to anthropological theory, influencing studies on migration, adoption, and the anthropology of the house. Her insightful analyses continue to resonate in academic and interdisciplinary discussions on human societies.