“My mother’s wife”: Identity and functions of co-parents in non-heteronormative stepfamilies
Abstract
This article examines the representation of stepparents in non-heteronormative stepfamilies and addresses their identity and roles. Four families that came from a prior heterosexual marriage and one from a prior homosexual marriage were interviewed. The results reveal that sexual orientation is not relevant in family relationships for the couples interviewed. However, divorce and a new relation can be a cause of conflict, making it important to define the role of the stepparents. Stepparents are defined as friends and counsellors, roles they should not overstep. Moreover, involvement of the other parent, the children’s age and cohabitation are factors that influence stepparents’ identity and functions.Keywords
kinship, family structure, family trajectories, same-sex families, divorceReferences
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