Perceptions of Stepparents: Variation in Stereotypes as a Function of Current Family Structure

The present investigation explores whether college students have less positive perceptions of stepparents than they do of biological parents and whether the degree of these stereotypes depends on the current family structure of the raters (intact, single-parent, or stepparent). Ninety students from continuously intact families, 55 from single-parent families, and 30 from stepfamilies rated the typical father, mother, stepfather, and stepmother, as well as six other family and peer positions, on a series of nine evaluative adjectives presented in a bipolar fashion. Results confirmed that perceptions of stepparents, and particularly stepmothers, were less positive than those of natural parents for all three groups. In addition, students from stepfamilies and single-parent families were significantly less stereotyped in their perception of stepmothers than were their counterparts from intact homes. These results are interpreted as supporting the notion that increased exposure to stepfamilies (many of those in single-parent homes also related to stepmothers living with noncustodial fathers) attenuates negative stereotypes of stepmothers through increasing sensitivity, familiarity, and appreciation of the challenges facing remarried mothers.