Exploring Twins

ELIZABETH STEWART lectures on the sociology of Soviet/Russian society at the London School of Economics. Her research interest in the social analysis of twinship arose from the birth of hew own twins. She is a member of the Twins and Multiple Births Association, the Multiple Birth Foundation and the International Society for Twin Studies.

• List of Tables Preface PART ONE Myths About Twins The Comparative Constitution of Twinship: Anthropological and Ethnographical Perspectives Twins in Literature, Films, Television and the Press Heredity and Environment: The Classic Twin Method Measuring Twinship: Psychologist on Twins The Divided Self: The Psychoanalytic Approach PART TWO The Social Construction of Twinship: Family, Parents and Siblings The Social Construction of Twinship: We Two Together 'Are They Identical?: Twins' Parents Questionnaire and General Public Questionnaire Thinking Twinship: Childhood and the Formation of Self and Identity Towards the Social Analysis of Twinship Concluding Remarks Appendices Bibliography Index

Elizabeth Stewart has used her excellent socological skills to bring together theories and research into the comparative perception of twins. She explains the various attempts to analyse differences and similarities between twins and singleton children and points out how the public is confused and possibly puzzled by twins. This book provides a real insight into the position of twins in society at different stages of human and academic development and into the way in which twins are used by different societies to reflect theories on the nature/nurture debate. For anyone wishing to learn more about how society has treated the twin reationship and possible reasons why this may be, Elizabeth Stewart has provided a thought-provoking starting point.' Jane Ellison BSc, Tamba (Twins and Multiple Births Association) Past Chair and Trustee There has been too little study of the considerable social significance of twins...in society at large. Elizabeth Stewart's Study ranges widely through rich anthropological sources and the large body of material available from Western Literature, films and news media. She demonstrates that more familiar aspects of twin studies could benefit from social exploration of the Social dimension.' - Elizabeth Bryam MD FRCP FRCPCH, President, International Society for Twin Studies