New ways of parenting in changing contexts: research project

Abstract

Social changes and some legislative initiatives have revived the debate on joint legal custody and shared parenting after divorce. We intend to look at a wider scope revolving around family and parenting. Concepts such as traditional roles and models, gender relationships or conciliation are not only tied to the issue but they can help to pinpoint it more exactly. Redefining kinship, the vulnerability of marriage as an institution and real world issues such as blended families after divorce proceedings, internal and international adoption, transnational families, single parents, same sex parenting and assisted reproduction are fundamental elements to understand our working framework and to be included as resources in any responsible maternity or paternity exercise. New parental figures are emerging that raise demands and questions and bring about changes in personal circumstances and in public policies and social intervention. These experiences fall outside usual practice; they might be stigmatized and considered to be problematic but they shed light on and provide best practices for shared parenting.