Reimagining Stepmother - (Sociology of Children and Families) by Patrycja Sosnowska-Buxton (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Stepmothers often battle with a range of negative myths and stereotypes, with Cinderella's wicked stepmother being the most infamous.

Drawing on 20 in-depth interviews with British stepmothers, this book reimagines the expectations, practices and position of stepmothers through a feminist sociological lens. Combining firsthand accounts, including the author's own experiences, the book reveals the complexities of stepfamily dynamics and how stepmothers navigate them.

By examining the interplay between personal experiences and broader gendered, historical and social structures, the author offers a fresh perspective on contemporary stepmothers and stepfamilies.

Review Quotes

"Written with a feminist imagination, this book makes a difference academically and serves as an invaluable source of interdisciplinary knowledge about stepmotherhood, both as an experience and an institution." Aneta Ostaszewska, University of Warsaw

"In this compelling investigation, Sosnowska-Buxton shifts the lens on stepmotherhood, replacing fairy tale tropes with a nuanced, deeply human portrait that fosters empathy and understanding. Drawing on in-depth interviews, the author centres lived experience to challenge dominant myths about stepmotherhood, motherhood, and womanhood. This engaging, accessible text makes an invaluable contribution to contemporary discussions on family and gender." Stephanie Starling, Catalytik Group

"Profound, lucid, personal. Illuminates families' true complexities and challenges us to abandon moralized stereotypes to reimagine stepmothers and their roles." Yésica Alejandra Del Moral Zamudio, Universidad La Salle Oaxaca

"Patrycja Sosnowska-Buxton provides a beautifully crafted, ground-breaking, analysis of the myths, stereotypes, and very importantly, the lived experience of stepmothers/mothering." Gayle Letherby, University of Plymouth, University of Greenwich and University of Bath

About the Author