Theses defended
"São coisas de irmãos": recortes sociológicos das fratrias contemporâneas
December 16, 2025
Doctoral Programme in Sociology
Sílvia Portugal
Sibling relationships have been undervalued in sociological analysis, particularly within the Portuguese context. This thesis proposes placing sibling groups at the centre of sociological inquiry, highlighting the significance of studying them and their unique position within the sociology of families. The thesis is grounded in an in-depth, qualitative empirical study, arguing that these relationships are essential for understanding interpersonal and family dynamics, and thus deserve to be emphasised as an autonomous object of study. The research employed semi-structured life-history interviews, utilising the photo-elicitation technique to gather a total of 68 narratives encompassing all members of 25 sibling groups, comprising 9 half-sibling and 16 full-sibling groups, reflecting varied individual and family trajectories.
The study advances a continuous dialogue between conceptualisation and empiricism. It draws on several theoretical and conceptual contributions that offer a broad perspective on contemporary families: the representations associated with kinship, within which sibling groups are situated; the family practices that take on meaning in the daily lives shared by sisters and brothers; and the displays that highlight the ways these bonds are manifested. This three-dimensional analytical framework made it possible to capture the heterogeneity of sibling ties, rejecting univocal or normative readings and instead recognising the multiplicity and complexity present in subjects' discourses and experiences.
The proposed analytical model and its articulation with the listened narratives are reflected in the overall structure and organisation of the thesis. Parts I and II establish the epistemological and methodological foundations of the study, resulting in the presentation of the empirical data in the form of a Scrapbook (Part III). This Scrapbook creates a "collage" of the elements that allow us to envisage sibling groups as fluid and contextual objects, overarched by the space(s) and time(s) of individual and collective trajectories.
Each fragment of this Scrapbook reveals elements of the composition of the sibling groups as symbolic and material, affective and practical, corporeal and expressive constructions. The analysis underscores the ambivalent and constantly shifting nature of intimacy, the role of the domestic space and objects in forging bonds, what brings subjects together and sets them apart, the significance of family rituals and nostalgia, as well as corporeality and secrets as expressions of power, care, and resistance. By exploring these dimensions, the Scrapbook offers a plural and relational reading of sibling groups, revealing the complexity and dynamism of ties that are continuously intertwined and transformed.
Keywords: Sibling groups; Siblings; Everyday-Life; Family Practices; Qualitative Research
Public Defence date
Doctoral Programme
Supervision
Abstract
The study advances a continuous dialogue between conceptualisation and empiricism. It draws on several theoretical and conceptual contributions that offer a broad perspective on contemporary families: the representations associated with kinship, within which sibling groups are situated; the family practices that take on meaning in the daily lives shared by sisters and brothers; and the displays that highlight the ways these bonds are manifested. This three-dimensional analytical framework made it possible to capture the heterogeneity of sibling ties, rejecting univocal or normative readings and instead recognising the multiplicity and complexity present in subjects' discourses and experiences.
The proposed analytical model and its articulation with the listened narratives are reflected in the overall structure and organisation of the thesis. Parts I and II establish the epistemological and methodological foundations of the study, resulting in the presentation of the empirical data in the form of a Scrapbook (Part III). This Scrapbook creates a "collage" of the elements that allow us to envisage sibling groups as fluid and contextual objects, overarched by the space(s) and time(s) of individual and collective trajectories.
Each fragment of this Scrapbook reveals elements of the composition of the sibling groups as symbolic and material, affective and practical, corporeal and expressive constructions. The analysis underscores the ambivalent and constantly shifting nature of intimacy, the role of the domestic space and objects in forging bonds, what brings subjects together and sets them apart, the significance of family rituals and nostalgia, as well as corporeality and secrets as expressions of power, care, and resistance. By exploring these dimensions, the Scrapbook offers a plural and relational reading of sibling groups, revealing the complexity and dynamism of ties that are continuously intertwined and transformed.
Keywords: Sibling groups; Siblings; Everyday-Life; Family Practices; Qualitative Research