Blending in unconventional ways. An epistemological reflection on a case study of blended families

This article explores unconventional support networks within a case study on blended family constellations in Italy, focusing on the ‘no blending’ typology. By introducing a relational meshwork based on this case, it challenges rigid family categorizations. Engaging with the family abolition framework and feminist and critical perspectives, the article questions whether the concept of "family" should be redefined or dismantled. It advocates for recognizing alternative forms of relatedness grounded in practices of intimacy and care, highlighting the need for epistemological reflection to embrace diverse relational experiences and rethink traditional paradigms. The findings illustrate how, even in the absence of integration between biological parents and siblings, meaningful and supportive relational configurations can emerge. The case reveals a dense meshwork of non-normative ties providing emotional, material, and caregiving support. These dynamics challenge normative expectations of post-separation family forms and suggest the potential for rethinking blending itself as a broader, more inclusive phenomenon beyond biology, cohabitation, and legal ties.