Aperçu

Résumé (français)

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Résumé (anglais)

This paper discusses the difficulties faced by researchers when trying to define and identify families in the context of high conjugal instability that characterizes western societies. Once a couple with children separates, the family splits into two residential units between which children circulate; it is not rare to see additional members join these units, as separated parents who live with children form new relationships, thus leading to the formation of stepfamilies. Who should be counted as belonging to these families, and should these include only the individuals who live under the same roof? To what extent do existing survey data shed light on this issue? To answer these questions, the authors first review research that discusses the definition of the family in stepfamily studies and then present two empirical studies based on the General Social Survey conducted in 2001 in Canada. The first one, which examines the level of contact that children maintain with the non-resident parent after separation, leads them to reflect on the appropriateness of eliminating the residential boundary to define families. The second investigates whether the family relations observed vary depending upon whether men or women are interviewed and according to the parental role (biological or step-parent) that the respondent plays in the family.