Stepfathers and grandmothers

Hunter-gatherer (aka forager) child-rearing has been frequently depicted as highly cooperative, with infants and children receiving care from many individuals, including parents and extensive alloparental networks. Although considerable research has been conducted exemplifying these patterns among hunter-gatherers, stepfamilies have rarely been addressed in these studies. Among Central African foragers, including the Bofi foragers, divorce and remarriage are common and cooperative care and alloparental involvement is pervasive. In the current study, the caregiving experiences of Bofi forager young children (ages one to four years) are examined in relation to living in a family with a stepfather or their biological father. Children’s interactions with and caregiving received from parents and alloparents are described and compared across family type to identify key differences and similarities between the two contexts. Larger community demographic patterns among the Bofi foragers are also examined to understand the relative typicality of children of various ages living in a stepfamily. Implications for research and theory related to cooperative care and the complementary care patterns of grandmothers and stepfathers are discussed.