Abstract
This article examines how stepmothers think about kinship within their stepfamilies. Based on interviews with 104 stepmothers, five different views of kinship were identified: a Nuclear model, an Extended model, a Couple model, a Biological model, and a No Family model. These diverse ideas about family were connected to, one, how the stepmothers defined their roles; two, the kinds of relationships to which they aspired in the stepfamily; and three, some of the conflicts they experienced as stepmothers. The stepmothers' views of kinship appeared to be shaped by a number of considerations, such as personal need, experience in their families of origin, and expectations from others.
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