This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by O’Brien, G. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Rosemary Kennedy: the Importance of a Historical Footnote

Social Work Department at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

In most accounts of the Kennedy family, Rosemary, John F. Kennedy’s eldest sister, has been discussed only in passing. In fact, there is much in Rosemary’s story that is instructive in regard to the effort families take to cope with disability, the impact of the social environment on such efforts, and the impact of a disabled member on the family as a whole. Rosemary’s presence within the Kennedy home may have been a much more important component of the family’ rise to prominence than most scholars appear to believe. This article describes Rosemary’s place within the family, attempts by her parents and siblings to cope with and obfuscate her condition, and her possible impact on family dynamics.

Key Words: Rosemary Kennedy • Kennedy family • family dynamics

Journal of Family History, Vol. 29, No. 3, 225-236 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0363199004266849


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?