Deconstructing the Myth of the Wicked Stepparent

SUMMARY This article examines the myth of the wicked stepparent; a myth which continues to exist even though there is very little substance in it. For the most part, it appears that the myth of stepparental wickedness has its origins in baseless folklore and continues to be perpetuated in popular literature and contemporary Hollywood movies. It seems likely that such negative portrayals of stepparents would influence how members of society view them. Although there are some bad stepparents in the real world, becoming a stepmother or stepfather does not inevitably bring out the worst in people. Now that stepfamilies are so common, it's time our society developed a more positive image of stepmothers and stepfathers.