Stepfamilies

Question 1

what are the trends?

Answer 1

•over 10% of all families with dependent children in britain
•85% of stepfamilies at least one child is from the woman’s previous relationship •11% there is at least one child from the man’s previous relationship
•4% of step families. There are children from both partners previous relationship

Question 2

pros of reconstituted families

Answer 2

•Ferri and Smith - similar to first families, involvement of stepparents in childcare and childrearing is a pro

Question 3

cons of reconstituted families

Answer 3

•HOWEVER, Ferri and Smith found stepfamiles are at a greater risk of poverty becuase there’s more children and the stepfather may also have to pay child support from a previous relationship
•Allen and Crow - problems of divided loyalty and issues such as contact with the bio parent can cause tensions.

Question 4

reasons for increase in reconstituted families

Answer 4

divorce/separation and courts

Question 5

divorce/separation

Answer 5

step families are formed when single parents form new partnership, (increase in SPF bc of divorce) separation and divorce are responsible for the creation of reconstituted families

Question 6

courts

Answer 6

•more children in step families are from the women’s previous relationship than the man’s because, when marriages and cohabitations break up, children are likely to remain with their mother