Where are the Stepdads in Movies and on TV?
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I was raised by a good stepfather and noticed that men like him don't get enough credit and you hardly ever see them on TV or in movies. Here's an article I did for Salon looking at the recent increase (small, but noticeable) in the number of sympathetic stepdads on screen. Still a long way to go, but...
http://www.salon.com/2015/12/27/beyond_mike_brady_finally_stepfathers_ar...
Television and movies are
Television and movies are decades behind in terms of accurately portraying the modern American stepfamily. It's as if the concept is either still taboo or too complex to distill into a visual format.
It would be great to see an in depth, Ken Burns-esque documentary of steplife that explores all the p.o.v.s of the dynamic.
There was a tv show on last
There was a tv show on last year called "Trophy Wife" that portrayed the step-mom in a very favorable light.
The title was stupid because the only way she was like a stereo-typical trophy wife was that she was much younger than her husband and very pretty. Otherwise she was nice and tried hard to get along with both ex-wives and 3 step-kids. It was very unrealistic because they all got along pretty good - but the portrayal of the step-mom was very positive.
Of course, it got cancelled.
Stepdads tend to do a lot
Stepdads tend to do a lot better than stepmoms because biomom usually has main custody unlike biodad who may just get them EOWE. Biomoms usually speak of their new husband as the main dad or real dad or try to point out to the kids how the new dad is better, and ask their kids to call him dad. This all helps stepdad out with the kids. Stepmoms on the other hand can be thought of and spoken of as dad’s little piece or ho or whatever, or not. Sometimes biomoms do appreciate the helping hand they get from dad’s new wife. This is something you’ll probably never see on TV. How biodad can be set up for failure from the get go and how some families can keep it going for years and years until the bitter end.
A friend of mine adores his
A friend of mine adores his step-dad.
He credits his step-dad with raising him, and doing it well.
They keep in touch even after his mom and step-dad divorced.
It can work, and their relationship is very sweet.
Agree with others' comments
Agree with others' comments about stepmothers, in contrast with stepfathers.
There is no human bond stronger than the mother/child bond, with relatively minor exceptions.
Entering into a relationship that encompasses another woman's children is fraught with challenges and almost impossible odds of success, but with a certain guarantee of heartache. Even within immediate family groups, women are very territorial and protective of their children - even when their own mothers/sisters are involved! So imagine what a "stranger" i.e. stepmom has to deal with. Throw in a weak-willed husband who doesn't want to rock the boat and avoid confrontation, and you have a recipe for a volatile "step" stew.
That's why places like Steptalk exist. And you have probably seen it's mostly populated by women. Perhaps your next article should be from their perspective. There's enough heartache to read around here - especially the adult stepchild forum, where you can see the DECADES of abuse stepmothers have to endure - even when stepkids are long grown.