Stepmother Role Research Articles

Unclear Motherhood: Ambiguity and Role Conflict Among Double Mothers

ABSTRACT Motherhood is a culturally and individually important role that shapes identities and behaviors. Typically, we think of motherhood in biological terms, but women are mothers in a variety of other ways. Double mothers are women who are both biological and stepmothers. Role identity theory was used to assess the mother identities and roles of 31 double mothers. This theory suggests that identities are shaped by cultural role definitions with effects on individual affect based on role enactment. Results of in-depth interviews demonstrated that these women sought to enact both of their mother roles in terms of the biological mother-role but were limited in doing so for their stepmother role. This was due to the stigma applied to stepfamilies as well as the influence of their stepchildrens’ biological mothers. The distress experienced by these women shows the lack of adjustment by social structures to changing family forms.

Wicked Stepmother, Best Friend, and the Unaccounted Space Between

Blended families are increasingly common, yet our understanding of these families—especially the role of stepmothers—is limited and lacks a critical focus. Such lack is a problem when recognizing that the stepmother is one of the most culturally stigmatized family positions. Guided by family systems theory, which recognizes the family as an interdependent system where roles are created and maintained through interactions, we seek to provide a deeper understanding of how stepmothers navigate the difficulties that accompany their stigmatized role. Instead of writing about the stepmother role in the family system from an outside perspective, we use critical duoethnography to write from inside the system by composing first-person, collaborative, reflexive accounts of our lived experiences as stepmothers that highlight the unique work we do within our blended families. Our accounts engage an intersectional lens where we embrace our layered identities—as stepmothers, women, feminists, and academics who hail from the working class and have differing ethnic backgrounds—to write ourselves out of the simplistic, and often negative, cultural ideas about stepmothers. Our primary goal is to provide a dynamic illustration of the nuanced, messy, and multifaceted experiences of (step)m(Other)ing—hence the strategic use of parentheses to encapsulate such experiences. We pinpoint the struggles we encounter in striving to find a balance between establishing a close bond with our (step)children and taking on a more authoritative parental role—all with the threat of the “wicked stepmother” stereotype looming over us. Ideally, our insider accounts help to untangle the lived experiences of stepmothers from the grip of a pervasive, distorted, denigrating, and essentializing cultural construct.

Who Was Anna Magdalena Bach?

Who Was Anna Magdalena Bach? Andrew Talle (bio) Martin Jarvis. "Did Johann Sebastian Bach Write the Six Cello Suites?"( PhD diss ., Charles Darwin University, 2007). 430 pages. Martin Jarvis. Written by Mrs. Bach: The Amazing Discovery that Shocked the Musical World(Australia: ABC Books, 2011). 280 pages. Eberhard Spree. Die verwitwete Frau Capellmeisterin Bach: Studie über die Verteilung des Nachlasses von Johann Sebastian Bach(Altenburg: Kamprad Verlag, 2019). 308 pages. David Yearsley. Sex, Death, and Minuets: Anna Magdalena Bach and Her Musical Notebooks(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2019). 336 pages. Although Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) has been the subject of intensive study for centuries, we still know surprisingly little about his private life. The documents thus far unearthed are primarily official in nature: job applications, payment and procedural records, anodyne recommendations for students, title pages, and the like. The few surviving materials that offer a sense for his personality relate to disputes with colleagues or employers; we know almost nothing about his closest relationships. Only his compositions leave the vivid impression that he was a profoundly intelligent and sensitive human being, a close reader of texts, an endlessly resourceful, virtually magical conjurer of subtle emotions. We can only speculate about the rewards and challenges of living with someone manifestly obsessed with making music that far exceeded all contemporary expectations. Johann Sebastian's second wife, Anna Magdalena Bach (1701–1760), is a fascinating figure for all who would seek to know more about his inner world. For twenty-nine years she was his most intimate partner. Their professional lives were closely entwined and they endeavored to raise seventeen children together. The reality of their relationship is ultimately unknowable, but it is easy to imagine [End Page 139]that she possessed a wealth of knowledge about her husband's creative activities: not only when and where he composed his extraordinary music but how and why. Her experiences are of further interest for what they can teach us about those of other wives, mothers, and female musicians of the era. Unfortunately Anna Magdalena's life is even more poorly documented than that of her husband. The known facts are quickly rehearsed. 1Born Anna Magdalena Wilcke on 22 September 1701 in the town of Zeitz, she was the youngest of six siblings. Like Johann Sebastian, she came from a musical family: both grandfathers and at least one uncle were professional musicians, as was her father, who served as trumpeter to the court of Moritz Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz (1664–1718). Her only brother followed in their father's footsteps, becoming a court trumpeter himself; three of her four sisters would also marry court trumpeters. 2During her teenage years Anna Magdalena must have developed impressive musical skills of her own because at age nineteen she was paid an honorarium by the court of Johann August of Anhalt-Zerbst (1677–1742) for "singing a few times with the Hofkapelle." 3She is next documented in Cöthen in June of 1721 taking communion in the Lutheran church and in September serving as godmother to two babies born to court employees. In the baptismal records she is described as a "princely singer here" ( fürstliche Sängerin allhier) and "chamber musician" ( Cammer-Musicantin), suggesting that she was already on staff at this point, though no salary payments are documented until eight months later. 4At the first of these baptisms, the Kapellmeister—whose first wife had died just over a year earlier—served as godparent alongside her, a public sign that the two were engaged to be married. Anna [End Page 140]Magdalena Wilcke became Anna Magdalena Bach on 3 December 1721, assuming the role of stepmother to her husband's four children. Six months after the wedding she finally began receiving an official salary—200 Reichstalerper year—that made her the thirdhighest-paid of eighteen court musicians. 5 Despite this apparently favorable employment situation, Anna Magdalena and Johann Sebastian left Cöthen exactly one year later to move their growing family to Leipzig, where he would take up duties as cantor of the St. Thomas School and Municipal Music Director. Her only documented performances thereafter occurred on return trips to...

(Re)constructing Family Images: Stepmotherhood Before Biological Motherhood

AbstractStrong cultural values and ideals attached to women in families deem the role of stepmother as inferior to that of biological mother. Although biological motherhood is celebrated, stepmotherhood is stigmatized, and women who wish to become mothers but become stepmothers prior to having biological children may grieve the loss of images surrounding normative ideals of creating a family. Using a feminist family science approach, the purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore the experiences of women without children in their transition to stepmotherhood. Interviews with 23 stepmothers (aged 26–47) revealed that women engaged in an internal process of creating and then adjusting personal images of family life to accommodate their new family circumstances. The process of (re)constructing family images had implications for later adjustment to stepmotherhood. Notions of the motherhood hierarchy emerged to depict the unique experiences of women who became stepmothers prior to having biological children.

Understanding the Factors Related to Stepmother Anxiety: A Qualitative Approach

Stepparenting is widely recognized as a stressful experience, with higher levels of stress and anxiety experienced by stepmothers than stepfathers. This study sought to examine the experiences of stepmothers to help understand the perceived factors related to their increased anxiety within the stepfamily. A qualitative study using focus groups was conducted in the United Kingdom. Results suggested that stepmother anxiety is predominantly related to three areas: their relationship with the biological mother, their relationship with their stepchildren, and lack of clarity regarding the stepmother role. It is posited that interventions designed to clarify the stepmother role and improve and strengthen relationships between stepfamily members would help alleviate anxiety and thus improve stepmother well-being.

Deeltijds versus voltijds stiefouderschap: de relatie tussen stiefouders en stiefkinderen in moedergezinnen, vadergezinnen en verblijfsco-ouderschap na scheiding

Joint custody arrangements following parental divorce create a specific context for the development of the relationship between stepparents and stepchildren. Using data from the research project Divorce in Flanders (DiF) we test the impor¬ tance of fulltime and parttime co-residence and a limited stepchildrearing role for a good stepparent-stepchild relationship. Spillover effects are considered from both parent-child relationships and relationships between old and new partners. We compare the results for the reported relationship quality by stepparent and stepchild. The results show that the importance of co-residence mainly runs via relationships with and between other family members. There are a lot of spill¬ over effects from relationships within the same household, but not from relation¬ ships between households. The strongest between-household relationship is the one between mothers and stepmothers regarding the stepmother-stepchild rela¬ tionship. There are different indications that there is more competition between the mother and stepmother role than between the father and stepfather role.

Gender typing in stepmothers: a phenomenological analysis

PurposeDifficulties in defining stepfamily roles remain an important issue for its members. A potentially important factor in defining roles in the family is the identification with a particular gender type and how it relates to one's expectations about one's place in the family system. The purpose of this paper is to explore how gender typing processes inform our understanding of the stepmother role construction process, and its link with stepfamily adjustment.Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured interview data from six androgynous and six feminine stepmothers were selected based on gender type identification.FindingsResults from this analysis were analyzed using a phenomenological approach, and are presented with the intent to explore how gender typing processes inform our understanding of the stepmother role construction process, and its link with stepfamily adjustment.Originality/valueGender typing has not been studied in the context of stepmother families, even though research on stepmothers’ adjustment has highlighted the ambiguous nature of their role in the stepfamily. Additionally, while qualitative inquiry continues to represent the favoured paradigm in the emerging area of stepmother research, studies of this type remain limited in scope.

Parenting Stress, Perceived Child Regard, and Depressive Symptoms Among Stepmothers and Biological Mothers

Although stepmothering is a common undertaking in American families, little research has investigated the mental health consequences, and their correlates, associated with adopting a stepmother role. To help fill this gap, the current study examines parenting stress and participants' perceptions of their (step)children's regard toward them and the family as mediators in the relation between parenting role (stepmother or biological mother) and depressive symptoms. Participants included 60 biological mothers and 75 stepmothers living in the United States. Stepmothers reported more depressive symptoms and parenting stress and lower perceptions of child regard than did biological mothers. Further, the relation between parenting role and depressive symptoms was mediated by parenting stress and perceptions of child regard. Results suggest that stepmothers are at risk for depressive symptoms and illuminate possible contributors to this risk, providing important directions for research and intervention.

Role strain and online social support for childless stepmothers

Using Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) Transactional Theory of Stress, a content analysis of 62 message sets identified role strain and social supportive behaviors utilized within an online support group for childless stepmothers. The stepmothers focused on issues related to stepchild living arrangements and interference of the biological mother. Results revealed positive correlations between stepchild investment and biological mother interference, stepchild investment, informational support, stepmother frustration and esteem support. Study implications include understanding issues and relationships that impact stepmother role strain, identifying the stress reappraisal process within actual messages written online, and focusing on the use of online social support for relationship based issues.

Être mère dans la famille recomposée : défis de la conciliation des rôles de belle-mère et de mère biologique

This study examines issues related to occupying both the role of stepmother and biological mother in a stepfamily. A sample of twelve participants was interviewed. The central theme of the interviews concerned the psychological state of the women as they tried to reconcile their biological maternity with their role as a stepmother. A qualitative analysis of the interviews enabled us to propose three themes emerging from their experience: a) a comparison of their different parental roles in the stepfamily; b) the issues related to managing stepfamily dynamics; c) the challenges linked to the development of a family identity.

Understanding the Roles of Non-Residential Stepmothers

Stepfamilies represent the fastest growing type of family, with approximately two and a half million children growing up within stepfamilies in the UK (Economic and Social Research Council, 2004). Much research has been carried out on many aspects of the stepfamily, however few studies have focused on the position of the stepmother. This qualitative study examines the role of the non-residential stepmother and is designed to identify key issues and concerns affecting the cohesion of the family unit. The research found evidence to suggest that the stepmother role is both ambiguous and ill-defined. Further evidence suggested that women adopting a “biological” definition of a family, found adaptation to stepfamily life far more difficult than those willing to include all members of their new family. The study also suggested an additional risk factor to the adult relationship.

A mothering but not a mother role: A grounded theory study of the nonresidential stepmother role

We propose a model based on grounded theory depicting how women construct the roles of nonresidential stepmothers. Eleven middle-class stepmothers identified three general roles: mothering but not mother roles, other-focused roles, and outsider roles. These roles were influenced by issues relating to the biological mothers, their spouses, their stepchildren, their own biological children, extended kin, and experiences external to the family. When enacting their roles as stepmother, they encountered issues surrounding a perceived lack of control and ambiguous role perceptions. Positive evaluations of role enactments were credited to their step-children; failures to the stepchildren’s and the stepmothers’ own behaviors. A central concept that tied these categories together and overshadowed factors in role conceptualization, experiences in role enactment, and evaluation of role performance was the ideology of motherhood.

Contesting the myth of the ‘wicked stepmother’: narrative analysis of an online stepfamily support group

This is the study of the narratives of a group of stepmothers who are members of an online blended family support group. Specifically, this study examines how the stepmothers utilize narratives to address the myth of the ‘wicked stepmother’ and the stigma associated with the stepmother role. History and implications of the ‘wicked stepmother’ myth are examined. Analysis of online narratives reveals the stepmothers' creation of a binary opposition—that of the biological mother as ‘wicked’ and the stepmother as ‘good’—in their attempt to deconstruct and contest this prevailing myth. Implications for narrative use among other social support groups are explored.

Transforming the Story: Narrative Applications to a Stepmother Support Group

Inherent in the role of stepmother are unique tensions, ambiguities, and challenges. Underlying much of the role strain is the dominant cultural stepmother story, that of a self-serving and pernicious woman. Undertaking a role held circumspect by many may contribute to feelings of insecurity, isolation, and role constriction. In this article, the author describes how concepts drawn from narrative therapy are utilized in an ongoing support group for stepmothers. Reasons why support groups are especially appropriate for and enhanced by narrative techniques are offered. Group functions and narrative applications are described and illustrated through 4 kinds of stepmother stories. These stories exemplify some of the dilemmas that stepmothers face and show how narrative techniques have been used to help members create more satisfying and authentic stories.

Expectations of the Stepmother's Role

A survey (N = 265) explored stepmothers' perceptions and expectations of their role as a stepmother. A factor analysis of the responses revealed four underlying factors: functional inclusion, parental love, household responsibility, and mother replacement. Stepmothers clearly expected to be included in the functions or workings of the stepfamily, but they did not expect to be the person primarily responsible for the household duties. Stepmothers were even less likely to expect a parental-like love relationship with their stepchildren and adamantly did not expect to replace the stepchild's mother. The strongest predictor of stepmothers' expectations was the amount of time stepmothers spent with their Stepchildren.

Perceived self-competence, stepfamily myths, and (step)parent role ambiguity in adolescents from stepfather and stepmother families.

Assessed type of stepfamily (stepfather vs stepmother) and gender differences in junior high school students' perceived self-competence, myths about stepfamilies, and perceived ambiguity of the (step)parent role. In self-competence, there were no significant effects for type of stepfamily, gender, or their interaction. Ss rating stepparents reported more role ambiguity than did those rating biological parents. Without control variables, but not with them, stepmother role ambiguity was negatively correlated with self-competence. Contrary to expectations, self-competence was positively correlated with adherence to stepfamily myths. For those in stepmother families, self-competence was positively correlated with years since parental divorce and years living with the stepparent.

Stepmothering: Myth and Realities

Although the high divorce and remarriage rates have created a concomitant increase in the number of stepfamilies, little is known about this family form—especially the stepmother family. This article reports on an exploratory study of the roles, difficulties, and satisfactions of fifty-one step-mothers in relation to the development of family relationships and family unity. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the research. In addition, major concepts from role theory, family systems theory, and the family life cycle approach contributed to the objective exploration of the subject. The author concludes that the myth of the wicked stepmother may be dispelled if women are presented with information to help them successfully develop the role of stepmother.

Step-Kin Relationships

riage is monogamous and permanent; but since the divorce rate appears to be rising at approximately eight per cent each year (Chen, 1968:252) and an estimated eight million children are living with a stepparent (Simon, 1965:69), sociologists are beginning to focus more attention on the relations among steprelatives. We have come to recognize that remarriage creates not only new affinal relationships, but also new parental and relations. This paper considers two dyads in a reconstituted family: that between stepparent and stepchild and that between stepsiblings. Research into these phenomena has been sparse, although more work has been done on the relationship between stepparent and stepchild than on stepsiblings. Most of the research in the former area tends to be pessimistic. Typically, Fast and Cain (1966) contend that regardless of the desire and skill of the stepparent, success is not likely because our social norms make it impossible for the stepparent to take on completely the parent role, especially when there has been a divorce. Several investigators have found that the stepfather is more likely to establish and maintain a good relationship with his stepchild than the stepmother. probable reason why a stepmother experiences more difficulty is that she normally spends more time with the children than the stepfather, incurring more opportunity for disharmony because of proximity and the nature of her role. Benson (1968) notes that this can be attributed to the type of role the father plays, inasmuch as his role is more passive than that of the mother because his major function is implied in the symbolism of his presence. Bowerman and Irish (1962) also found that the role of stepmother is more difficult than that of stepfather. These authors believe that society is more apt to give assistance to the male stepparent and that males are more likely to find social acceptance in the step-role. Another reason is the myth in our culture which denigrates the stepmother-the folklore of the cruel and heartless stepmother. second area of inquiry-the stepsibling relationship-has been more neglected. Often two sets of children, one from the man's former family and one from the woman's, are brought together into the same household. More frequently, however, the father's children are weekly visitors and the mother's children are permanent residents. In either event, these children are suddenly thrust into relationships with each other and are expected to get along together. Not only have stepsibling relations been neglected, but so have the relationships among natural siblings (Irish, 1964). There are, of course, some studies which concentrate on the sociological aspects of the relationship and these have found such relationships to be strong, second only to those between parent and child. It has been suggested that sibling solidarity may be the fundamental kinship bond within bilateral systems (Pherson, 1954:199). Cumming and Schneider (1961) found that during some phases of the life cycle, for certain individuals, the tie with siblings is stronger than the tie with spouses. Several authors have noted the important functions the relationship performs (Kirkpatrick, 1963:248-249). possession of a makes the early socialization process more complete because it provides peer role models and training in cooperation, accommodation, and conflict management. Furthermore, siblings offer each other companionship, emotional security, and love. Having a means that one learns early how to share privileges and obligations. Finally, the relationship evokes the idea of fair play and provides an early concept of social reality. probability is high that these positive aspects of intrasib interaction eventually enter the stepsibling relation, although the degree of intensity is probably lower. Some researchers have pointed out the negative aspects of having siblings (Kirkpatrick, 1963:248-249). Difference in age, sex, and personality structure can partially explain dis*This article is based in part on an unpublished Ph. D. dissertation, The Process of Becoming a Family: A Study of Reconstituted Families, Case Western Reserve -University, 1972.