Word of the Chair – ‘Kinkeeping’
The essence of our alumni network is staying in touch, keeping abreast of important developments, and cheering each other on. I recently came across the phenomenon of ‘kinkeeping’, which reminded me strongly of the relevance of alumni relations.
In 2022 a TikTok clip went viral focused on kinkeeping and in particular on the gendered angle of this idea.* It originates in the mid-1980s when Carolyn Rosenthal at the University of Toronto introduced it in an academic paper.** Kinkeeping is the label used to describe all the invisible volunteer work to keep a group together. It is the often unrecognised and non-paid effort to keeping people connected, staying in touch, keeping traditions alive, of emotional caregiving, and looking after well-being of individual members of the group. It is usually associated with the family and in particular the mother remembering birthdays, anniversaries, special occasion, nurturing relationships and looking after the health and wellbeing of the members of the family.
The TikTok clip used the analogy of the theatre, where there are so many people behind the scenes contributing to make the play a success, while the applause goes to the thespians on the stage, rather than the people who sell tickets, do the make-up, sew the clothes, pull the curtain, help with rehearsals and clean up afterwards. It is easy to be a free rider when it comes to kinkeeping. There will be others remembering occasions, organizing get-togethers, catering food and drinks and facilitating the sense of belonging. It is easy to rely on the network as a safety valve, especially when things get tough. We also run a great risk, when extrapolating: if the efforts of the kinkeepers are no longer there, the family runs the risk of disintegrating, civil society without volunteer work will suffer and ultimately democracy will be the poorer for it.
Every organization needs kinkeepers, including International Studies. Therefore, a big shout out to all the individuals behind the alumni network (Arla, Ioana, Christina and all others who have taken an active role in the network): Thank you for keeping us together, organizing the communication, the sense of belonging and for being there. Another thank you to our International Studies communications team Regine Mulders, Marieke Oe, who work behind the scenes to keep us all connected. But also in a broader sense, the many visible and invisible contributors to International Studies, the Study Advisors, Coordinators of Study, the Admin Staff all deserve our gratitude. Thank you for being our kinkeepers.
And if you have an opportunity to be a kinkeeper yourself: it is important to realise that this work is so very important!
* https://www.tiktok.com/@molly_west/video/7183168131706178858
** Danielle Friedman, ‘What is Kinkeeping?’, New York Times, 8 May 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/08/well/family/kinkeeping-families.html
Also; https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-amplify-the-joys-and-burdens-of-kinkeeping/
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