The changing role of women in blended families and their position within the community

Abstract

The rapid change in family structure in Malta within the last two decades has transformed traditional/conventional family life for both adults and children (Abela, 2016). The rise in single parenthood (Abela, Bezzina, Casha, & Azzopardi, 2015), the increase in the number of separations and divorce in the last thirty years, and re-coupling, have given rise to blended families (also known as step-families or re-constituted families). A blended family is one in which at least one parent has children and these are not biologically related to the other partner or spouse. Either parent, or both, may have children from previous relationships or marriages. In addition to this, the parents might have children of their own. Therefore, blended families include families in which one or both parents remarry or cohabit, bringing children from former marriages to form a new family unit, or produce their own. In the West, this family structure has been “becoming the dominant family structure” for the past decades (Walsh, 1992, p. 709). Research on blended families mainly addresses family development, communication strategies, relationships between parents and children, and struggles members of these families face to integrate and blend (Portrie & Hill, 2005). This study was conducted to better understand the experiences of women in blended families in Malta, by putting the spotlight on their changing roles within the family they form part of, and their status within society. Interviews with five women in blended families varying in socioeconomic status and age were conducted. Their experiences were elucidated with insights from service providers working in the field. The researcher adopted the Feminist Standpoint Theory to elicit data, which meant that semi-structured interviews were conducted with two sets of participants. From the thematic analysis of this data, five themes emerged, namely: work-life balance; step relationships; support; society, and boundaries linked to the experiences of step mothers. The data derived from service providers focused on four themes relating to blended families: constitution of successful blended families; advice for them; discrimination; together with law and policies. This research provided a rich description of the experiences of women in blended families and their changing roles in the family unit. The results of this study might help to spur further research into the subject and influence practice and policy advancement, provide evidence-based interventions and family education to support women in blended families to bring about social change.