We explain what an assembled family is and some of its characteristics. Also, single-parent and homo-parent family.
What is an assembled family?
An assembled family, mixed family or reconstructed family is known as a family nucleus in which one or both parents They have descendants from a previous union. That is, it is a family formed by one or two divorced parents, widowers or single parents.
The origin of this term dates back to Argentina in 1987, when the divorce law was enacted, officially recognizing this figure in that country, where it was already an important demographic group. And although it is assumed that they are also so in the rest of the Western world, the figures regarding the assembled families are very diverse.
This is because depending on the legislation, it may not be considered as such to the second unions not legalized, very frequent in Latin America, or single mothers and fathers who then marry for the first time.
However, both in Europe As in the US, the divorce rates are significant (30% and 50% respectively), but of the divorced a very high percentage (75%) decide to try again with a new partner.
The use of these terms in Spanish has been defended to combat the pejorative connotation that the suffix –astro gives to a stepfather or a stepmother, figures that in the imaginary of the fable Childhood are also linked to evil or selfishness. This connotation does not exist in the English term: step- (like thestepfather orstepmother).
Single parent family
When speaking of a single parent family, it refers to the fact that it is led by a single parent, either father or mother. This is the case of widowers and widowers, single parents, and divorced parents who do not return to build a permanent relationship.
This term is used only when there are children to care for, and contrary to what is often thought, these households are not incomplete, nor are they dysfunctional, but simply the father or mother alone occupies the guardian role.
At most, and depending on the case, they may face greater financial difficulties than a household in which both parents contribute money to the household, which is not always the case in households in which there are two parents.
Homoparental family
The homoparental family is one whose parents are a same-sex couple, that is, a homosexual couple, and have children from previous relationships or acquired through adoption, surrogacy or artificial insemination (in the case of female partners).
The legal recognition of this type of family has been possible only in those countries that recognize the legal homosexual union (in some cases referred to as equal marriage or gay marriage) and allow them access to adoption.
This subject can be controversial, since there are numerous religious and moral positions against; But it is a general trend, at least in the West, the normalization of homosexuality and homosexual relationships, thus offering spouses the just protection of the law and the benefits of officially living as a couple.
Currently equal marriage is recognized in 25 countries: Germany, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Spain, United States (in some states), Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Sweden and Uruguay.