From adoption and surrogate parenting to increasing rates of remarriage and same-sex parents, the number of diverse family constellations in United States society continues to grow. Such constellations offer enormous benefits as well as significant obstacles. Because of a high divorce rate, stepfamilies are a growing family constellation. It is estimated that about half of all marriages in the United States are a remarriage for at least one of the adult partners (Hornik 2001). Further, one in three children in the United States under the age of 18 is a member of a stepfamily (Hornik 2001). As Hornik (2001) maintains, ôMost experts predict a significant increase in stepfamilies, possibly to the point where stepfamilies outnumber traditional familiesö (30). This research will explore the challenges stepfamilies must face in order to reap the benefits offered by blended families.
The blended family offers many potential benefits when partners with children who remarry take steps to maintain a foundation to promote them. Chapter Fourteen reveals many problems and strengths associated with blended or ôstepfamiliesö. Stepfamilies are but one of a variety of increasingly diverse family constellations in American society that offer both benefits and challenges. As expressed in chapter nine, ôThe diversity of family forms in our country creates a variety of experiences, needs, and possibilitiesö (347). The stepfamily offers a variety of possibilities and benefits for its members, so long as the unique challenges associated with stepfamilies are successfully faced by its members.
Stepfamilies deal with a variety of challenges to be able to enjoy the benefits of such a family constellation. Benefits of stepfamilies are numerous. Such benefits include greater economic resources and a higher standard of living, male and female parenting/socializing models for children, siblings for only children, and a variety of
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