WARM UP

Name as many family structures as you can. Think of how a family tree looks.

FAMILY STRUCTUR

ES

PREVIEW QUESTIONS

Answer the following True/False questions: Researchers are increasingly viewing stepfamilies as normal

families. Divorce does not end families. Shared parenting tends to be the strongest tie holding former

spouses together. Second marriages are significantly happier than first marriages. Most stepfamilies feel that they have become true families. Children tend to have greater power in single-parent families than

in traditional nuclear families. Becoming a stepfamily is a process. Stepmothers generally experience less stress in stepfamilies than

stepfathers because stepmothers are able to fulfill themselves by nurturing their stepchildren.

Researchers are increasingly finding that remarried families and intact nuclear families are similar to each other in many important ways.

People who remarry and those who marry for the first time tend to have similar expectations.

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VOCABULARY

1. Binuclear Family: A post-divorce family with children, consisting or the original nuclear family divided into two families, one headed by the mother, the other headed by the father; the two new families may be either single-parent or stepfamilies.

2. Blended Family: A family in which one or more parents have a child or children from an earlier marriage or relationship, a stepfamily.

3. Remarriage: A marriage in which one or both partners have been previously married.

4. Single-parent Family: A family with children, created by divorce or unmarried motherhood, in which only one parent is present.

5. Stepfamily: A family in which one or both partners have a child or children from an earlier marriage or relationship,

6. Stepparent Role: There is no such role clearly defined.

TYPES OF FAMILIES

The 1990’s marked the shift from a traditional marriage and family system to a pluralistic family system which consists of three major types of families.

Intact nuclear families Single-parent families Stepfamilies

FACTS ABOUT FAMILIES: Two out of three individuals will divorce,

remarry or live in a single-parent family or step family during his or her life.

Remarriage is as common as first marriage. Nearly one-fourth of all families are currently

single-parent families. Over 2.3 million households have stepchildren

living with them, and over a third of all children can expect to live in a stepfamily at some time during their childhood.

Instead of seeing single-parent and stepfamilies as “deviant”, researchers are reevaluating them as normal; the focus becomes one of examining if the family is fulfilling its functions.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES:

The fastest growing family form in the United States.Created by divorce or birth of unmarried womenUsually female headed (87%)Significance of ethnicity (64% African

American,36% Hispanic, 26% white)Poverty - WHY?Variety of household arrangements and show

great flexibility in child care and housing.Transitional character but for older women in their

30’s or 40’s, it has become more of an intentional life style.

Consists of one parent and one or Consists of one parent and one or more children.more children.

SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES BY ETHNICITY

CHANGES IN FAMILY STRUCTURE OF SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES

Mother becomes closer to her children

More egalitarian family situations

More responsibilityChildren gain power in determining the rules

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL SINGLE PARENTS: Acceptance of

responsibilities Parenting is first

priority Consistent, non-

punitive discipline Open

Communication Foster individuality Need for self

nurturing Dedication to rituals

& traditions

BINUCLEAR FAMILIES

A post-divorce family with children, consisting of the original nuclear family divided into two families, one headed by the mother, the other headed by the father. The two new families may be either single-parent or step family.

DIAGRAM OF BINUCLEAR FAMILY Which person has

not lost a primary relationship? (sadness, anger, misplaced hostility)

How is this family different from a traditional family? (# of households, # of people, # of generations, # of grandparents)

BINUCLEAR FAMILY SUBSYSTEMS Former spouses subsystem (continues because

of children) Issues include anger, hostility, conflicts about parenting,

shifting roles and relationships, incorporating step-relatives after remarriage

Important to separate parenting from personal issues The remarried couple subsystem The parent-child subsystem The sibling subsystem The mother/stepmother and father/stepfather

subsystem

CHARACTERISTICS AFFECTING REMARRIAGE

Age at the time of separation Ethnicity Presence of children

(Nearly ½ of all marriages in the US (Nearly ½ of all marriages in the US involve at least one partner who has involve at least one partner who has been previously married)been previously married)

COURTSHIP:

Shorter - WHY? (Nearly ½ remarry within a year)

May feel guilt Look at potential partner also as potential

parent Must deal with child’s judgments, hostility,

and resentment of the “intruder”

REMARRIAGE

Partners must get to know each other in midst of changes.

Different marital expectations. Often creates a step family. Marital happiness appears to be about the same

as first marriages. But more likely to divorce than first marriages -

WHY? Most difficult for step-children. Ex-spouse can be an intruder, source of conflict,

handy scapegoat.

THIS IS NOT A SECOND MARRIAGE – THIS IS NOT A SECOND MARRIAGE – IT IS A FIRST BLENDED FAMILY IT IS A FIRST BLENDED FAMILY

MARRIAGEMARRIAGE

REMARRIAGE HAPPINESS VS DIVORCE RATES

Marital satisfaction appears to be the same as first marriages.

More likely to divorce especially if children are present.

Remarriage does not receive the same family and kin support as first marriage.

Subject to similar stresses present in first marriage.

STEP FAMILIES:

Could be the norm soon Step parent role ill

defined

A FAMILY IN WHICH ONE OR A FAMILY IN WHICH ONE OR BOTH PARTNERS HAVE A BOTH PARTNERS HAVE A

CHILD OR CHILDREN FROM CHILD OR CHILDREN FROM AN EARLIER MARRIAGE OR AN EARLIER MARRIAGE OR

RELATIONSHIP.RELATIONSHIP.

COMPARE TRADITIONAL FAMILIES WITH STEP FAMILIES

Almost all members have lost an important primary relationship

One biological parent lives outside the current family The relationship between a parent and his/her

children predates the one with the new partners Stepparent roles are ill defined Many children in stepfamilies are also members of

the non-custodial parent’s household Children have at least one extra pair of grandparents

Discuss for each of the following statements:Discuss for each of the following statements:Potential difficultiesPotential difficultiesPotential advantagesPotential advantagesFeelings associated with the difference Feelings associated with the difference

STEPFAMILY DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES 1. Early stage:

Fantasy (expect children to love new parent as much as they do)

Immersion (reality replaces fantasy) Awareness of feelings

2. Middle stages: Mobilization (recognize difference, conflict more open,

stepparent begins to take a stand and integrate them) Action (reorganizes itself, creates new norms and

family rituals)

3. Later stage: Contact ( members make intimate contact with each

other and stepparent has individually created role) Resolution (solid family)

WHAT WOMEN IN STEPFAMILIES WANT:

To make up to the children for the divorce

Create a happy family Prove they are not

wicked stepmothers To love their

stepchildren instantly To be loved instantly

in return

STEP-MOTHERSStep-mothers have the

most challenges (step fathers tend not to be as involved)

Custody disputes Children with troubled

family histories Must assume role of

disciplinarian

WHAT MEN IN STEPFAMILIES WANT: May want to be

super dads to their own children

Feel guilt and confusion in their new families

Experience conflict related to discipline and fitting into stepfamily

SPECIAL PROBLEMS FOR STEP FAMILIES Favoritism may exist along kinship lines Divided loyalty between parents places

great stress upon children Discipline is especially difficult to handle

if the child is not one’s biological offspring

Allocating money, goods, and services Outsiders have influence on insiders Children can play adult roles and ruin a

new marriage

PRESSURE POINTS FOR STEP FAMILIES Money Time Decisions Intimacy Power Control

STEP FAMILIES SUCCESSFUL IF BY 3RD YEAR:

Children obey step parent

Siblings get along Ex-spouse

relationship more routine

STEP FAMILY STRENGTHS

Children may gain multiple role models More flexible Concerned stepparent Additional siblings Additional kin Improved economic status Happily married parents