Coparenting
Encyclopedia
Coparenting or co-parenting describes a parenting situation where the parents are not in a marriage, cohabitation or romantic relationship with one another.
The principle of coparenting (Italian
: Principio di bigenitorialità) states that a child
has always and in any case the right to maintain a stable relationship with both parent
s, even if they are separated
or divorced
, unless there is a recognized need to separate him/her from one or both parents.
Such a right is based on the concept that to be a parent is a commitment that an adult takes with respect his/her children, not the other parent, so that it cannot and must not be influenced by any kind of separation among parents.
According to article 30 of Italian Constitution, to be a parent is both a right and a duty
. As a right, it cannot be constrained by the agreement of a third party, even if it would be the other parent; as a duty, it is not possible to abdicate it as well as it is not possible to abdicate any decreed right.
The principle of coparenting opposes the habit to grant custody of a child exclusively to a single parent, and promotes the shared parenting
as a protection of the right of children to continue to receive cares and love from both parents.
This principle was established in Italy
at the beginning of the 21st century by the Associations of Separated Parents that for years have been fighting against a culture, a social mindset, and a legislative and legal system that is discriminating among genders in the conflicts between former partners, especially when children are involved. Such associations are in fact also committed to solve several problems related to separations and divorces, as international child abduction
s, parental alienation syndrome
, and equal rights
between genders in judicial separations and divorces.
Such relationships may be established among friends, or by use of various websites or advertising media.
, Anthropology
, and Biology
. However, its original meaning was mostly related to united families. However, since the Convention on the Rights of the Child
, 20 November 1989, the fact that a child has to continue to maintain a strong relationship with both parents even if separated, has become more and more a recognized right. So, the concept of shared parenting was extended to separated and divorced families too. It should not to be confused with biparentality, term used in Biology
and Genetics
to designate the genetic inheritance of a living being from both parents.
Post-separation coparenting
The term 'coparent' may also be used to describe a situation where, following divorce or separation, the child's parents seek to maintain equal or equivalent responsibility for the child's upbringing.The principle of coparenting (Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
: Principio di bigenitorialità) states that a child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
has always and in any case the right to maintain a stable relationship with both parent
Parent
A parent is a caretaker of the offspring in their own species. In humans, a parent is of a child . Children can have one or more parents, but they must have two biological parents. Biological parents consist of the male who sired the child and the female who gave birth to the child...
s, even if they are separated
Legal separation
Legal separation is a legal process by which a married couple may formalize a de facto separation while remaining legally married. A legal separation is granted in the form of a court order, which can be in the form of a legally binding consent decree...
or divorced
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
, unless there is a recognized need to separate him/her from one or both parents.
Such a right is based on the concept that to be a parent is a commitment that an adult takes with respect his/her children, not the other parent, so that it cannot and must not be influenced by any kind of separation among parents.
According to article 30 of Italian Constitution, to be a parent is both a right and a duty
Duty
Duty is a term that conveys a sense of moral commitment to someone or something. The moral commitment is the sort that results in action and it is not a matter of passive feeling or mere recognition...
. As a right, it cannot be constrained by the agreement of a third party, even if it would be the other parent; as a duty, it is not possible to abdicate it as well as it is not possible to abdicate any decreed right.
The principle of coparenting opposes the habit to grant custody of a child exclusively to a single parent, and promotes the shared parenting
Shared parenting
Shared parenting refers to a collaborative arrangement in child custody or divorce determinations in which the care of the children is equal or more than substantially shared between the biological parents.- Nature and History :...
as a protection of the right of children to continue to receive cares and love from both parents.
This principle was established in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
at the beginning of the 21st century by the Associations of Separated Parents that for years have been fighting against a culture, a social mindset, and a legislative and legal system that is discriminating among genders in the conflicts between former partners, especially when children are involved. Such associations are in fact also committed to solve several problems related to separations and divorces, as international child abduction
International child abduction
The term international child abduction is generally synonymous with international parental kidnapping, child snatching, and child stealing. However, the more precise legal usage of international child abduction originates in private international law and refers to the illegal removal of children...
s, parental alienation syndrome
Parental alienation syndrome
Parental alienation syndrome is term coined by Richard A. Gardner in the early 1980s to refer to what he describes as a disorder in which a child, on an ongoing basis, belittles and insults one parent without justification, due to a combination of factors, including indoctrination by the other...
, and equal rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
between genders in judicial separations and divorces.
Elective coparenting
Coparenting may be used as a choice by individuals seeking to have children, who do not wish to enter into a conventional relationship. Such arrangements are common among gay and lesbian parents.Such relationships may be established among friends, or by use of various websites or advertising media.
Coparenting in science
This term is not really a neologism, since it already exists and is used in several scientific contests, as PsychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, and Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. However, its original meaning was mostly related to united families. However, since the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...
, 20 November 1989, the fact that a child has to continue to maintain a strong relationship with both parents even if separated, has become more and more a recognized right. So, the concept of shared parenting was extended to separated and divorced families too. It should not to be confused with biparentality, term used in Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and Genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
to designate the genetic inheritance of a living being from both parents.
United States
In the United States the term coparenting is often used to describe the relationship between two separated or divorced parents attempting to parent their shared children.Other languages
This term can be translated as bigenitorialità in Italian, coparentalité in French.Related terms
- Fostering
- FamilyFamilyIn human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
- Parental alienation syndromeParental alienation syndromeParental alienation syndrome is term coined by Richard A. Gardner in the early 1980s to refer to what he describes as a disorder in which a child, on an ongoing basis, belittles and insults one parent without justification, due to a combination of factors, including indoctrination by the other...
- Joint physical careJoint physical careJoint physical care is when both parents share physical placement of the children. Simply defined, joint physical care allows the child to live with each parent 50% of the time during the year. Parenting plans are established to determine when each parent has the children living with them...