Shared parenting research: a watershed in understanding children’s best interest
"Unequal parenting distribution is pervasive around the world."
8 summer 2017 PSG
Although I have attended dozens of professional conferences over the course of my career, this conference was both valuable and unique in several ways. It was truly international and interdisciplinary, which offered the rare opportunity to test how even the newest research might apply in practice around the world. I also eagerly welcomed its dedicated investigation into whether equal parenting might be a solution to parental alienation, as well as the overall atmosphere of open-minded inquiry into the very real and grave challenges we continue to face around child custody.
Representatives from about 40 countries attended ICSP. This fact alone is important because it demonstrates how pervasive unequal parenting distribution is around the world, even in countries where equal/shared parenting laws have passed. I was energized being around so many other researchers who were passionate about understanding and addressing this form of social inequality. Diversity, particularly international diversity, is an important goal in science in order to better understand cultural differences in not only people, but also laws and social institutions such as courts.
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he International Conference on Shared Parenting (ICSP) 2017, organized jointly by the National Parents Organization and the International Council on Shared Parenting, took place in Boston, MA on May 29-30. This year’s theme was “Shared parenting research: a watershed in understanding children’s best interest?”
In light of the significance of ICSP in our shared fight against parental alienation, the editorial team of Parent Survival Guide asked Dr. Harman, who attended and presented at the event, to share with the readers her impressions. These are captured below.
by Jennifer J. Harman, PhD
Photo credit: photos777
International Conference on Shared Parenting '17
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