We explain what a blended family is and some of its characteristics. Also, single-parent and homo-parent families.
What is a blended family?
A family nucleus in which one or both parents have descendants from a previous union is known as a blended family, mixed family or reconstructed family. That is, it is a family made up of one or two divorced parents, widowers or single parents.
The origin of this term dates back to Argentina in 1987, when the divorce law was enactedofficially recognizing this figure in said country, where it was already an important demographic group. And although it is assumed that they are also the same in the rest of the Western world, the figures regarding stepfamilies are very diverse.
This is because depending on the legislation, non-legalized second unions, very common in Latin America, may not be considered as such, or single mothers and fathers who later marry for the first time.
However, in both Europe and the US the divorce rates are significant (30% and 50% respectively), but of those divorced a very high percentage (75%) decide to try again with a new partner.
The use of these terms in Spanish has been defended to combat the pejorative connotation that the suffix –astro gives to a stepfather or stepmotherfigures that in the imagination of children's fables are also linked to evil or selfishness. This connotation does not exist in the English term: step- (as the stepfather either stepmother).
See also: Homophobia
single parent family
When we talk about a single-parent family, it means that is guided by a single parent, either father or mother. This is the case of widows and widowers, single fathers and mothers, and divorced fathers and mothers who do not return to building a permanent couple.
This term is only used when there are children to care for, and contrary to what is often thought, these homes They are not incomplete, nor are they dysfunctionalbut simply the father or mother alone occupies the guardianship role.
At most, and depending on the case, may face greater economic difficulties than a home in which both parents contribute money to the home, which is not always the case in homes with two parents.
Homoparental family
The homoparental family is one whose parents are a same-sex couplethat is, a homosexual couple, and they have children from previous relationships or acquired through adoption, surrogacy or artificial insemination (in the case of female couples).
The legal recognition of this type of families has been possible only in those countries that recognize legal homosexual union (in some cases referred to as marriage equality or gay marriage) and allow them access to adoption.
This topic can be controversial, given that there are numerous religious and moral positions against it; But it is a general trend, at least in the West, to normalize homosexuality and homosexual relationships, thus providing spouses with the fair protection of the law and the benefits of life officially as a couple.
Currently, equal marriage is recognized in 25 countries.: Germany, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Spain, United States (in some states), Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Portugal , United Kingdom, South Africa, Sweden and Uruguay.
