The Fatherless Daughter Project: Understanding Our Losses & Reclaiming Our Lives

[Adaryn]

More and more children are brougt up by just one parent (most of the time, their mother), and the trend seems to be increasing, which is concerning. Not only the absence of a father while growing up does leave psychological scars, but research seems to indicate that it can also permanently affect the brain negatively: Growing up without a father can permanently alter the BRAIN: Fatherless children are more likely to grow up angry and turn to drugs

Fortunately, there are possibilities to mitigate or repair some of the psychological damage later on in adulthood, once you become aware - not just theoretically/intellectually, but in a deeper, more visceral way - that a lot of your personal (particularly relationship) issues are actually daddy issues. I stumbled upon a book (written for fatherless daughters) which seems like an interesting read (Amazon reviews are all positive) for women struggling with that problem:

"The Fatherless Daughter Project"

“This groundbreaking work will give voice to an enormous population of women who are struggling to understand themselves in the face of their fathers’ absence.” —Claire Bidwell Smith, author of The Rules of Inheritance and After This

When Motherless Daughters was published 20 years ago, it unleashed a tsunami of healing awareness. When Denna Babul and Karin Smithson couldn't find the equivalent book for fatherlessness, The Fatherless Daughter Project was born. The book will set fatherless women on the path to growth and fulfillment by helping them to understand how their loss has impacted their lives.

A father is supposed to provide a sense of security and stability. Losing a father comes with particular costs that vary depending on the way he left and how old a girl was when she lost him. Drawing on interviews with over 5000 women who became fatherless due to death, divorce, neglect, and outright abandonment, the authors have found that fatherless daughters tend to push their emotions underground. These issues in turn become distinct patterns in their relationships as adult women and they often can't figure out why. Delivered with compassion and expertise, this book allows readers support and understanding they never had when they first needed it, and it encourages the conversation to continue.

Below is a written interview of the 2 authors of the book:

The authors of The Fatherless Daughter Project share their inspiration and insight.

Another article on the subject: Fatherless Women: What Happens to the Adult Woman who was Raised Without her Father?