Our Separate Ways, With a New Preface and Epilogue

 

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THEIR FATHERS’ DAUGHTERS

IF SOCIAL CLASS often serves as a wedge between women, then gender acts as a common denominator. Likewise, women’s relationships with fathers especially link them, even if the father-daughter relationships differed or left differing imprints. We found two typical patterns in the relationships between the women and their fathers, which we labeled “daddy’s girl” and “domineered daughter.” Daddy’s girls have strong, deep, caring relationships with their fathers, based on mutual admiration and respect. These girls want to emulate their fathers. Domineered daughters grew up under authoritarian, controlling fathers with whom they had difficulty developing emotional intimacy. The daughters either gave in to these domineering ...