Making Stepfamilies Work - Research Paper Example

It is common knowledge that stepfamilies struggle to function as regular families with both biological parents. As a result, there has been an increasing need within all societies to ensure that members of stepfamilies learn to co-exist peacefully. This is mainly because the family is the basic unit of society, and the wellbeing of society relies a great deal on the wellbeing of the family. The purpose of this research paper encompasses trying to give suggestions with regard to making stepfamilies functional units.

This research sheds light on the challenges that face such families by focusing on the unique diversity of all members, and further provides solutions to these challenges. In addition, this research will aim towards discussing the behaviors of children in stepfamilies including pathological behaviors, and possible interventions for these behaviors. For a long time, failure is the trait many individuals use to describe the concept of a stepfamily. The myths help propagate the stereotype that stepfamilies are dysfunctional.

For example, the myth that stepmothers are evil, jealous, and mean spreads around like a bush fire negatively affecting the stepfamily. Folklore and history depict stepmothers as wicked and cruel. They are usually the ones who steal the father’s attention from the children. A good example of this myth emerges in the widely read fairytale ‘Cinderella’, whereby Cinderella’s stepmother is depicted as evil incarnate. Additionally, stereotypes pertaining to the cruel nature of stepfathers exist.

The effect of being raised in a step family falls more on the children rather than on the parents. This effect can either be negative or positive considering the situation. In this paper, I will discuss some of the impacts that befalls on children. Most children are usually disconnected from their original families and this creates a sense of loneliness (ANDERSON & White, 2004). This is because such a child is disconnected from what he is used to and brought into a world he doesn’t know.