Sociology 2235 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: The Brady Bunch, Wicked Stepmother, Stepfamily
13 Feb 2021
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Document Summary
Typically, research compares reconstituted families with intact" families. The problem with this strategy is that the 2 types of families are not comparable. Family disruption is caused by a variety of circumstances and leads to variety of experiences. Also, observations can be prejudicial: if the intact" family form is seen as the norm, then other family forms, such as the stepfamily, may be viewed negatively. With remarriage, new social constructions must be built with new social roles and divisions of labour; this can be difficult. The presence of children of one or both partners makes remarriage harder. Why: 1) more people are involved, 2) children likely damaged from divorce, 3) children potentially bitter about remarriage, 4) communication with ex-spouse = unavoidable. In blended or complex marriages both partners coming into the marriage have children and then they have a child together: about 1/3 of remarriages are this type.
