Step Families Introduction There are variations in the structure of the contemporary family. The concept of the family is changing with step families emerging and nuclear families diminishing. The nuclear family has always been seen as the conservative and ideological form of the family. However, cultural transformation has led to the emergence of new family structures. New family structures may consist of two mothers, one parent, two fathers or step families with heterosexual couples and dependent kids. This research paper presents the concept of step families in the modern society. The paper reviews the prevalence of such families and the implications on the concept of family. It also reviews the problems associated with stepfamilies and their comparison with other categories of families (LeBey, 2004). Types of Families The fundamental categories of the family include nuclear family, extended family, lone parent family, and reconstituted family. In addition, there are cross-generational families, adoptive or foster families, never married families, grandparents as parents and same sex couples families. A nuclear family is the common category of family. This family consists of a child living with two parents. About half of all families with children under age 18 years comprise of two biological parents and their children. Single-parent families comprise of about 27 percent of households with children under the age of 18 years. About 670,000 families with children under age 18 have a family member of 65 years or older living with them (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2008). A step family is where at least one couple has at least one child from a different relationship. There are different forms of stepfamilies that are as a result o... ... middle of paper ... ...t it is not the purpose of the step-parent to replace them if they are part of the child’s life. In conclusion, step families are becoming a common phenomenon in the contemporary society. This is because of the high trends of failure of marriages. However, the society should take diverse measures to accept and promote the development of this form of marriages. Works Cited LeBey, B. (2004). Remarried with Children: Ten Secrets for Successfully Blending and Extending Your Family. New York: Bantam. National Stepfamily Resource Center (2013). Step Family Facts. Retrieved 21st November, 2013, from http://www.stepfamilies.info/stepfamily-fact-sheet.php Stokes, J. (1997). The Survival Guide to Step-Parenting. Blue Bird Publishing U.S. Bureau of the Census (2008). Families and living arrangements, Current Population Reports, Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
In this millennial it is very common to see a divided family. People get married, discover their differences and often divorce. Yet, with divorce comes many decisions and often a messy outcome. While this may take a toll on a family, remarriage is another issue of it’s own. “Step parents” is what they call them; although no one is quit sure what the word “step” truly insinuates. The sacristy of a marriage and the bond of a family is metaphorically protected by the beamed structure of a home. It isn’t until you read “Stepdaughters” by Max Apple that you catch a glimpse of the interior complications and obstacles, divorced families often face. The author seamlessly paints the very common mother and teenage daughter tension many families endure. Yet, the story is uniquely told by “stepfather number three trying to stay on the sideline” (132). The author focuses on a few issues that a family (divorced or not) may face: overbearing control, lack of trust, and unwanted change. He does this, by use of temporal setting – the dreaded teenage years – and situation – the exhausted disagreement between the mother and daughter.
Within his book The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family, Ron Deal (2014) presents a realistic approach to strengthening stepfamilies through focusing on each individual family member’s needs. Real-world scenarios along with integrating family therapy and biblical truth are used in exploring the many issues that stepfamilies resolve. The crux of Deal’s advice is the need to modify expectations from forming a rapidly blended family to integrating a slow-cooked approach that allows for the time and the coarse hardships that are experienced in developing a healthy stepfamily relationships.
Over the past decades, the patterns of family structure have changed dramatically in the United States. The typical nuclear family, two married parents with children living together in one household, is no longer the structure of the majority of the families today. The percentage of single-parent families, step-families and adopted families has increased significantly over the years. The nuclear family is a thing of the past. Family situations have tremendous influence upon a child’s academic achievement, behavior and social growth.
Families are becoming more diverse and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some people consider families to be strictly biological, while others consider people they love to be their family. Although two-parent families, also known as a nuclear family are the majority, one-parent families are becoming more common in today’s society. A sole-parent is considered to be a parent without a partner or spouse who is the primary care giver of one or more children in a household (Ministry of Social Development, 2010). From the age of 14 onward I was raised by m...
I have chosen to use an article from The Huffington Post called How Stepmoms Can Cope With ‘Biological Jealousy’. This is a meaningful article that is intended to explain the struggles that stepmoms and their stepchildren often face. It is noted that the main struggle of the relationship between a step parent and their step children is “Biological Jealousy”. Often the step parent tries to replace or become the primary Parent. The article provides solutions for increasing the moral and creating a stronger bond between children and their step parent.
The intent will be to get a better understanding of how children living in stepfamilies households define their family and how they perceive their relationships with other household members. The sample population will be a family counselor (Psychology). I will plan to seat in 10 or so sessions as an observer. Information from the seat-ins will be developed and analyzed. Research findings will be used to help future research.
In 1990, seventy-one percent of sixty-four million American children lived in a two parent household. Fifty-eight percent lived with their biological parents. Since the 1970s, there has been a huge increase in the amount of children living with single or divorced mothers. This only is right considering the increase in single women having children, although not all of those women don’t have a significant other. Currently 7.3 percent of children live with an unmarried parent, 9.1 percent live with a divorced parent and 7.4 percent live with a separated or widowed parent. Every year since the 1970s, over one million children have been affected by divorce (Shino and Quinn). Nowadays every where you look, someone has divorced parents. It could be your own parents, your best friend’s parents, your classmate’s parents or even your teacher. In 1988, fifteen percent of children lived with a separated or divorced parent, while 7.3 million more children lived with a stepparent. It is estimated that almost half of the babies born today will spend a portion of their life living in a one-parent family (Shino and
Some of the advantages for children in a step-family relationship is that it’s beneficial to have an extra adult to care for them, children will also enjoy a higher standard of living thanks to combined incomes, and this comes in handy as it’s a financial hardship to be a single parent. Another advantage is the feeling of security again. There are also certain disadvantages for children in step-family relationships since all children do not cope the same way. Some children might still be grieving the break-up of their original family. Children usually want their parents to stay together. Having to move to a new home, a new neighborhood and even a new school can cause insecurity and some anger due to the fact they are leaving their comfort zone. Another issue many times is that they resent their parents new partner for trying to discipline. Blending a family is never easy and there will be issues that arise on a daily basis. They aren’t only blending family’s it’s also relearning how to get along with those in what is now your new immediate
According to The Step family Foundation, every day 1300 step families are created, half of marriages will end in divorce, half of the families in the US are remarried and 75 percent of divorcees will remarry (Stepfamily Statistics). Additionally half of children under 13 years old live with a biological parent and
The sociological definition of the family is “a set of people related by blood, marriage or some other agreed-upon relationship, or adoption, who share the primary responsibility for reproduction and caring for members of society” (Schaeffer, 2009, p. 288). While the nuclear family (a man, a woman, and their children) was once the primary definition of family, now it refers to many familial configurations. Single-parent families, blended families, same-sex couples, traditional nuclear families and single-parents who have adopted are just a few of the configurations that society in general now views as a family. A healthy family will provide a place of unconditional love, acceptance and support.
Once upon a time, a traditional family structure was created by one man marrying one woman and procreating. Within the last few years, this has begun to change. Family structures are now being changed and created through divorce and remarriage, same-sex partners, and single-parents. When the leaders of these family structures can no longer co-exist, divorce or separation comes. If children are involved, a custody agreement needs to be arranged.
The family has been referred to as the most vital of the social institutions (Alexander, 2010). The definition of what it means to be a family has evolved over the past several generations. In technical terms, the U.S. Census Bureau defines a family as a group of two or more people residing together related by birth, marriage, or adoption. (U.S. Census, 2010). Categories of families that fit this definition include married couples with and without children, blended families, single parent, and extended family households. Same-sex and unmarried couples with and without children and individuals living alone are not included in this group, though they are a rising segment of the population. The make-up of family and household types at any given time has major consequences for society (Katz & Stern, 2007). Major systems such as economic political, legal, and other social institutions are all impacted by changes in family dynamics. This paper will explore the evolution of the family unit and examine the reciprocal link between this shift and surrounding systems. The relationship between these changes and contemporary systems theory will also be discussed.
As mentioned, this is never the answer. The lesson on that example is that you cannot replace the mom or the dad. Of course, this does not mean that it is impossible to find people who are ready to be a huge portion of both yours and your children’s life. What is really meant is that this should not be the reason of the relationship you from.
...ture. Unlike biological parents, stepparents as well as adoptive parents don’t have this restraint, which is why abuse on the children in these types of relationships is fifty to a hundred times greater (Daly & Wilson, 1998).
The family is a societal institution which initiates the positive and negative process of social interactions between people. Over the last few decades what constitutes the family has changed all over the world. Family in today’s environment is diverse in nature and may go beyond the scope of parents and children. Families can consist of variations in relationships such as close relatives, stepparents, half siblings and extended non-biological family members. Normally, immediate family members live in the same house, nearby, until the child reaches a specified age and maturity to go into the world and start their own family. Most often members of the families have intimate and personal relationships with each other. Within the family there is a continuation of social interactions between members that can influence and shape peoples responses and reactions to their larger societies.