Ever more parents in polyamorous families: A new materialist typology of parenting practices and division of work.

Cornelia Schadler

doi:10.1177/13634607211037481

Abstract

An analysis of parents that are a part of polyamorous networks-networks of three, four, or even more residential or highly available parents-shows three types of parenting practices: poly-nuclear, hierarchical, and egalitarian parenting. Especially, the hierarchical and egalitarian parenting practices show novel divisions of care work and a transgression of gender norms. However, in-depth new materialist analysis of qualitative interviews also shows how parents are, in specific situations, pushed toward standard family models and thus unintentionally maintain traditional family structures and gender roles.

Highlights

Parenting research has, for decades, only included two parents, and for most parts focused on heterosexual, monogamous couples of a mother and a father (Guzzo and Hayford, 2020; Reczek, 2020)
More than two parents were sometimes included in research of stepfamilies, when separated parents repartner (Raley and Sweeney, 2020), or when LGBT couples deal with a third party to reach their status of parenthood (Reczek, 2020)
Polyamorous networks with children differ in their approach toward parenting

Summary

Introduction

For decades, only included two parents, and for most parts focused on heterosexual, monogamous couples of a mother and a father (Guzzo and Hayford, 2020; Reczek, 2020). They identified as members of consensual non-monogamous relationships, such as polyamorous, open, or relationship anarchist networks Their practices and solutions did not fit to current definitions and typologies in parenting research. PallottaChiarolli (2010) has developed the notion of “border families” because polyamorous families exist within the mainstream norms of family while deviating from them at the same time (see the last section of this article) This position within society allows her informants a specific view on norms because they are constantly navigating the borders of these norms. In Raabs data only some truly transgress societal norms of gender roles and in many families (cis) women were responsible for domestic work and the care of children. The following paper will show that the processes discussed in this short review section may be related to specific family models

Method

Findings

Conclusion