Divorce and Remarriage Readings Flashcards
What is a stepfamily?
A stepfamily is a family in which at least one adult has children from a prior relationship. Stepfamilies have existed for much of human history, especially as a solution for parents who were widowed.
How were stepfamilies common historically?
Step-families were common in the past due to high mortality rates, with widows and widowers often remarrying for survival, child-rearing help, or financial support.
Who tends to be in stepfamilies in the U.S.?
Stepfamilies are common in the U.S., with a notable portion of the population having step-relatives. They are more common among younger adults, Black Americans, and those without a college degree.
What are some challenges facing people in stepfamilies?
Stepfamilies are more likely to experience divorce or separation, and the likelihood increases with remarriage. They are often formed by individuals from diverse backgrounds and can involve complex family structures.
How do gay and lesbian couples form stepfamilies?
Gay and lesbian stepfamilies are often formed when one partner brings children from a previous heterosexual relationship. Legal recognition of non-biological parents, especially for lesbian couples, remains a challenge.
How do later-life stepfamilies differ?
Later-life stepfamilies are becoming more common as divorce rates among older adults rise. These families often involve older adults who have remarried or cohabited, with men more likely to remarry than women.
What is the diversity in stepfamilies?
Stepfamilies are diverse, with many structural configurations. A “simple” stepfamily has a stepparent and children from a prior relationship, while a “complex” stepfamily includes children from both partners’ previous relationships.
How were stepfamilies viewed historically and today?
Historically, stepfamilies were seen as reconstituted nuclear families. Today, they are also viewed as incomplete institutions, with challenges in defining roles and societal support for diverse family structures.
What are “incomplete institutions” in the context of stepfamilies?
In the 1970s, sociologist Andrew Cherlin described post-divorce stepfamilies as “incomplete institutions” because they lacked formal societal structures, clear roles, and guides for how to function as a family.
Why do some stepfamilies try to re-create a nuclear family model?
Many stepfamilies try to re-create a nuclear family model for familiarity, to avoid stigma, or because it feels like a “normal” family structure, even if it may not always be effective.
What are the main ways stepfamilies are formed today?
Through remarriage, cohabitation, or first marriages where one partner has children from a prior relationship.
Why are stepfamilies structurally complex?
They can include children from both partners’ previous relationships, shared children, and multiple households.
What are “simple” and “complex” stepfamily households?
Simple stepfamilies have one parent with children from a prior union, while complex ones involve both partners bringing children into the household.
Why are stepfamilies often referred to as “incomplete institutions”?
They lack clear societal norms and institutional support for roles and relationships.
What are some stressors unique to stepfamilies?
Financial problems, child-rearing conflicts, and unclear societal guidelines for family roles.
How do gay and lesbian stepfamilies typically form?
Through prior heterosexual relationships or assisted reproductive technologies.
What legal challenges do lesbian stepfamilies face?
Non-biological parents often lack legal recognition and rights to the children.
Why are later-life stepfamilies increasing?
Higher divorce rates among older adults and increased cohabitation in later years.
What are benefits and challenges of re-partnering in old age?
Benefits include companionship and reduced isolation, while challenges include resistance to traditional caregiving roles, especially for women.
What are the four perspectives on stepfamilies?
1) Reconstituted nuclear families
2) Incomplete institutions
3) Deviant and dysfunctional
4) Adaptive and resilient.
What is a reconstituted nuclear family?
A stepfamily that models itself after the traditional nuclear family, often treating stepparents as replacements for biological parents.
What factors make the nuclear family model challenging for stepfamilies?
Non-residential parent involvement, resistance from children, and exclusion of extended family.
How are postdivorce stepfamilies viewed in comparison to nuclear families?
They are often perceived as deviant or dysfunctional, influenced by negative stereotypes in media and societal norms.
What are “reconstituted nuclear” stepfamilies?
Families that adopt the traditional nuclear family model to avoid stigma, simplify roles, and feel “normal.”
How does the “normative-adaptive” perspective view stepfamilies?
It emphasizes resilience and the capacity of stepfamilies to adapt and create positive dynamics rather than focusing solely on dysfunction.
How can stepfamilies manage transitions more successfully?
By validating grief, establishing middle ground for family rules, and reducing co-parental conflict to support children’s emotional security.
What role do co-parenting dynamics play in stepfamily success?
Collaborative, low-conflict co-parenting helps children feel secure and reduces loyalty conflicts.
Why do children in stepfamilies often belong to two households?
Legal preferences for joint physical custody often lead children to move between two parental households.
What challenges do “accordion households” face?
Frequent transitions, changes in routines, and co-parenting responsibilities shared across households.
What reduces loyalty conflicts and stress for children in stepfamilies?
Collaborative co-parenting, minimizing conflicts, and keeping children out of parental disputes.
What factors influence stepfamily dynamics?
Age of children, stepparent-stepchild contact, presence of half-/stepsiblings, genders, and previous family experiences.
How can parents maintain close relationships with their children in stepfamilies?
Setting aside one-on-one time, showing warmth, and discussing the child’s life openly.
