Intimacies and relationships

Relationships that matter: Exploring the relational nature of social life in the everyday

Morgan Centre members are internationally recognised for their study of relationships and relational dynamics as they unfold and are situated within everyday lives.

Members investigate how people live relational lives over time and how relationships matter to people. In focusing on relationships that are felt to matter, we refrain from making assumptions about which relationships matter and how. Rather, our members study the whole spectrum of relational life, including romantic couple relationships, family relationships and relationships with kin, as well relationships with friends, neighbours and acquaintances.

Our members have often explored those relationships that have historically been sidelined in sociological studies, including Brian Heaphy and Carol Smart researching same sex relationships, Petra Nordqvist, Carol Smart and Leah Gilman researching donor conception and its impact on family lives, Katherine Davies’ researching sibship, Jennifer Mason and Becky Tipper researching children’s kinship, Vanessa May exploring belonging and revisiting the concept of the family and Sue Heath researching the nature of relating in the context of shared housing and lodging arrangements.

Running through all our work is an overarching interest in investigating connections that are felt to matter (for good and bad), recognising that meaningful connectedness may exist in many, varied forms.