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Kim Leon, MU state specialist
and assistant professor of human development and family
studies
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Popular Movies Offer Insight
On Stepfamily Issues
By Kathryn Jones
The idea of stepchildren unwanted and unloved by their parent's new spouse is an unfair and unhealthy stereotype perpetuated in part by portrayals in film, according to a University of Missouri-Columbia researcher. In a society where 75 percent of divorced adults remarry, both children and adults face obstacles in developing functional relationships with their new family members. The researcher said stepfamily portrayal in mainstream movies can positively or negatively affect how stepfamily members adjust to family life, and that therapists and educators might find select clips from movies useful in counseling stepfamilies.
“Media images are a significant part
of the cultural context of families, which may affect family
members' expectations and interactions, as well as societal views
of families,” said Kim Leon, state specialist and assistant
professor of human development and family studies in the College
of Human Environmental Sciences. “In the past, cultural
beliefs perpetuated by media and folk tales have either stigmatized
stepfamilies, such as the wicked stepmother stereotype, or fostered
unrealistic expectations, such as the myth of instant love as
exemplified by the Brady Bunch.”
Leon and graduate student Erin Angst examined
portrayals of stepfamilies in popular movies from 1990 to 2003,
including “Stepmom”, “Tommy Boy” and “A
Very Brady Sequel.” They found the films were equally likely
to show both negative and positive aspects of stepfamilies as to
portray stepfamilies in a primarily negative way. Frequently portrayed
themes included: negative stepparent-child interactions, communication
about the nonresidential parent, affection and verbal conflict
between remarried partners, and the stepfamily providing support
for children.
The goal of the study was to identify film clips that could be used in educational programs for remarrying or remarried parents. Leon said educators and therapists can use the film clips to help stepfamilies develop realistic expectations for stepfamily life and effectively negotiate challenges.
“Participants can relate to material
presented in films and can apply the concepts to their own lives
through facilitated discussion,” Leon said. “Discussing
a film character's problems is likely to be less threatening
than asking participants to focus on their own problems and may
help them see the problems from a different perspective.”
Leon has been studying post-divorce family dynamics since joining the MU faculty in 2001. She currently is involved in two studies. The first study focused on children's perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in the post-divorce family. The second focused on co-parenting after divorce. She also has coordinated and taught the Focus on Kids parent education program for the past three years. The program provides divorcing parents with information on how to help their children adjust to divorce and strategies for effective co-parenting.
She recently developed an educational program,
“Step by Step: Creating Strong Stepfamilies,” to help remarried
parents create positive stepfamily relationships.
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Last Update:
November 15, 2007
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