Multiple Parents/Multiple Fathers
Multiple parents, especially multiple fathers, are a social reality but not a legal category. The assumption that every child has, or should have, two, but only two, parents remains a core operating assumption of family law. Yet at the same time, our knowledge of the existence of multiple fathers, whether birthfathers, stepfathers, psychological fathers or other categories, has found some reflection in cases that have granted some relational rights to fathers who do not fill the single place allotted for "legal father." In this Article, Professor Dowd proposes that it is time to think not if, but how, to recognize multiple fathers within the broader need to recognize multiple parents. Additionally, Professor Dowd explores how multiple parenthood, and particularly multiple fatherhood, might work. The author determines that the general principle of multiple fatherhood is supported by the channelling function of family law, as well as the law's role to support affirmative cultural change. Part I of this Article looks at the context of fatherhood. Part II suggests the range of possible models of multiple fatherhood, and advocates a model of shared but unequal coparenting with a core father. Part III considers some issues regarding implementation of this model. Professor Dowd concludes by returning to the law's channelling function and measuring the law's role in relation to culture.