The Allusionist 15. Step Away
Jul 29, 2015
Aaron Mahnke, creator of Lore and storyteller of folklore and scary histories, traces the origins of 'step-' from mourning to modern family labels. He explores how remarriage and childcare pressures spawned the wicked stepmother trope. The conversation digs into historical risks for stepchildren and playful attempts to rename awkward steprelationships.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Listeners Prefer Names Over 'Step' Labels
- Several listeners described avoiding the 'step' label and using first names instead to respect existing parental relationships.
- They often felt 'step' implied lesser importance and preferred neutral descriptors like partner's children.
'Step-' Originates In Bereavement
- The 'step-' family prefix originally marked bereavement, not replacement or lesser status.
- 'Stepchild' came first and signaled a child mourning lost caretakers, which later extended to 'stepmother' and 'stepfather'.
Remarriage Could Reduce Child Survival
- Historical remarriage often lowered survival chances for children, so step-relations could be harmful in practice.
- A 2013 German study found fathers' remarriage reduced survival odds for children born in earlier centuries.