Stepfamily
A family formed when at least one parent has non-biological children.
A stepfamily—also known as a bonus family—forms when at least one parent has children who are not biologically related to their spouse. Either or both partners may bring children from earlier relationships or marriages. Stepfamilies are often classified as "simple" if only one partner has prior children and the couple has no children together, or as "complex" (or "blended") if both partners have at least one child from a previous relationship.
The prefix "step-" first appeared in the 8th century as *steop-* in a Latin-Old English glossary, where it meant "orphan." *Steopsunu* translated the Latin *filiaster* (stepson), and *steopmoder* stood for *nouerca* (stepmother). Later Old English words included stepbairn, stepchild, and stepfather, all referring to family ties formed after a widowed parent remarried. These terms relate to *ástíeped*, meaning "bereaved," and stepbairn and stepchild were sometimes used simply as synonyms for orphan. Words like stepbrother, stepniece, and stepparent appeared much later and no longer carried the sense of bereavement. Similar terms exist in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German *stiuf-* and Old Norse *stjúp-*.
A child is called the stepdaughter or stepson of their biological or adoptive parent’s new spouse, and that spouse is the stepparent (stepfather or stepmother). A step-grandparent is the stepparent of someone’s parent or the parent of someone’s stepparent, with stepgrandfather and stepgrandmother as the male and female forms. A step-uncle is the spouse of someone’s parent’s sister or brother, but not the father of someone’s cousin—unless the sibling marries and has no children, in which case the niece or nephew should call the new spouse "uncle," not "step-uncle." Similarly, a step-aunt is the spouse of someone’s parent’s brother or sister, and the niece or nephew should refer to that spouse as "aunt." A stepsibling is the offspring of a stepparent to whom one is not biologically or adoptively related; stepbrother and stepsister are the male and female terms. A stepgrandson is the grandson of someone’s spouse to whom one is not biologically related, and a stepgranddaughter is the granddaughter of someone’s spouse to whom one is not biologically or adoptively related.
In Australia, under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), a "stepparent" is defined as someone who is not a parent of the child but is or has be
- Earliest recorded use of prefix step-
- 8th-century glossary of Latin-Old English words meaning 'orphan'
- Simple stepfamily
- Only one member of the couple has a prior child or children, and the couple has no children together
- Complex/blended stepfamily
- Both members of the couple have at least one child from another relationship
- Legal status in most of the U.S.
- Stepparent is a 'legal stranger' with no legal right to the minor child
- Most common form of adoption worldwide
- Adopting a stepchild
Lore & Background
The earliest recorded use of the prefix step-, in the form steop-, is from an 8th-century glossary of Latin-Old English words meaning 'orphan'. Steopsunu is given for the Latin word filiaster and steopmoder for nouerca. Similar words recorded later in Old English include stepbairn, stepchild, and stepfather. The words are used to denote a connection resulting from the remarriage of a widowed parent and are related to the word ástíeped meaning 'bereaved', with stepbairn and stepchild occasionally used simply as synonyms for orphan. Words such as stepbrother, stepniece and stepparent appeared much later and have no particular connotation of bereavement.
Reader's Guide
Stepfamilies have been historically built through the institution of marriage and are legally recognized, though it is currently unclear if a stepfamily can be both established and recognized by less-formal arrangements, such as cohabitation outside of marriage. This relationship is becoming more common in all Western countries. There appear to be many cultures in which these families are recognized socially as de facto families, but in modern Western culture it is often unclear as to what social status and protection they enjoy in law. In most of the U.S., the stepparent is a 'legal stranger' with no legal right to the minor child, and cannot be ordered to pay child support. Stepparents generally do not have authority to give legal consent to medical treatment for a stepchild unless they have legally adopted the child or been designated a legal guardian. The most common form of adoption worldwide is adopting a stepchild, which makes the stepparent the child's legal parent. Challenges facing stepfamilies include financial and living arrangements, resolving feelings about the previous marriage, and anticipating parenting changes. Research has shown that parents who constantly fight with their ex-spouse tend to make their children suffer mentally and emotionally, while parents close with their ex-spouse tend to make their new spouse insecure and anxious.
Did You Know?
- The earliest recorded use of the prefix step- is from an 8th-century glossary meaning 'orphan'.
- In most of the U.S., a stepparent is a 'legal stranger' with no legal right to the minor child.
- The most common form of adoption worldwide is adopting a stepchild.
- A simple stepfamily becomes a complex/blended family upon the birth of a child to the couple.
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