Examined were characteristics of stepfamilies and perceptions of their members. Participants were 151 married or previously married graduate students enrolled in an evening course offered by an urban, southern college. Data were collected through administration of a two-part survey. Part I focused on race, sex, marital status, and identification as a parent and/or stepparent. Five questions in Part II categorized respondents' stepfamily type. The remaining 31 questions were based on research findings dealing with attitudes, perceptions, and feelings held by stepparents. Findings disclosed several commonalities between parents in stepfamilies and parents in other family structures. Significant relationships were found between age and both parenting and stepparenting, and between parental age and marital status in both stepfamilies and all other family structures. Only 9.3 percent of participants were stepparents. In most cases, stepfamily formation was preceded by divorce, which suggests that the absent parent is living. Three variables, including time the stepfamily had been in existence, co-residence of stepsiblings, and absence of former spouse, were identified as significant determinants of successful stepfamilies. Roles of family members were unclear, making family interaction difficult. Although many similarities exist between stepfamilies and traditional families, the myth of the stepfamily continues, portraying this family form as a deviant social structure sought by none, held in esteem by few, and pitied by many. (RH)