Quem é a nova companheira do pai? A experiência das “madrastas contemporâneas” em famílias recasadas

Abstract

The family in contemporary society presents itself in different ways. One of the family arrangements that have been increased is the remarried family configuration in which one or both members of the couple have children from a previous relationship. On this basis, the research which originates this thesis aimed to know the experience of women in relation to their partner’s children in a remarried family. For this purpose, a qualitative study was performed with six women who experienced a steady relationship with a man who had children from a previous one. The data were collected on a meeting with each participant on which the genogram of the family was built, with the aid of an identification data sheet. In addition, semistructured interviews with open questions were used and analyzed through thematic content analysis. It is noteworthy that the interviews analysis also enabled the completion of the genograms. The results of this research are presented and discussed in three articles that are part of this thesis. In the first article a positive experience in the relationship between the stepmothers and their stepchildren is identified. In addition, the need for some reorganization in relation to the new family dynamics was identified. The supposed power of the mother and the conflict of loyalty that the children experienced were identified as obstacles to the construction of these bonds. The second article, which sought to understand the role played by the new father’s partner in the family, identified the participants’ involvement and attention in relation to the stepchildren’s care specially. The results of the third article showed how quickly the cohabitation among interviewers and their partners was settled. Furthermore, the clash between former and current partner was identified, as well as issues involving the child support payment as sources of conflict in remarried families. The main features obtained in the results of the study concern the good relationship between stepmothers and their stepchildren and the conflict between ex-wife and current wife. Also, the need for reorganization and flexibility with this new family configuration was identified, which will vary according to the uniqueness of each family.