8 Ways Dads Can Empower Their Daughters Post-Divorce
‘Daughters of Divorce’ author Terry Gaspard reminds us how critical the father-daughter relationship is to a woman’s healthy emotional development.
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Since I began interviewing women for my book “Daughters of Divorce,” I’ve been struck with how many fathers and daughters yearn for a closer bond. Like many authors, my own experience has been a driving force in my interest about researching and writing about this topic.
In fact, the absence of my father in my daily life after my parents divorced caused a breach of trust between us. Although I didn’t attribute it at the time to the absence of my father, I did experience an intrinsic mistrust of men, and oddly enough a strong craving for their attention and approval at the same time.
For instance, there’s evidence that daughters who feel connected to their fathers experience more satisfaction with their bodies and ultimately higher feelings of self-worth.
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Over the last several years, many dads have written to me asking for suggestions on how to raise a daughter with high self-esteem after their divorce. Without hesitation I inform them that the father-daughter relationship—either missing or absent—is the most common theme that I blog about. What I often share with fathers is that fostering their daughter’s self-esteem post-divorce is a top priority because girls are so vulnerable to cultural influences. For instance, there’s evidence that daughters who feel connected to their fathers experience more satisfaction with their bodies and ultimately higher feelings of self-worth.
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For the most part, a good relationship with an intimate partner is strongly tied to a woman’s relationship with her dad. A father’s presence (or lack of presence) in his daughter’s life will affect how she will relate to all men who come after him and can impact her view of herself and psychological well-being.
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My research for “Daughters of Divorce” spanned over five years and comprised over 300 interviews of young women who reflected upon their parents’ divorce. The most common themes that emerged from these interviews were trust issues and a wound in the father-daughter relationship. My previous study published in the Journal of Divorce and Remarriage concluded that lack of access to both parents and an inability to deal with conflict in a constructive manner were associated with low self-esteem in young women raised in divorced homes.
Further, a recent large scale study cited in a Huffington Post article, “Teen Depression in Girls Linked to Absent Fathers in Early Childhood,” sheds new light on the importance of the father-daughter bond. Findings from the Children of the 90’s study at the University of Bristol, showed that girls whose fathers were absent during the first five years of life were more likely to develop depressive symptoms in adolescence than girls whose fathers left when they were aged five to ten years. These girls also demonstrated more depressive symptoms when compared to adolescent boys whose fathers left in both age groups. More research is needed on this key topic to explore reasons for these outcomes.
Why is the father-daughter relationship so vulnerable to disruption after a parents’ divorce? Dr. Linda Nielsen found that only 10 to 15 percent of fathers get to enjoy the benefits of shared parenting after divorce.
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Why is the father-daughter relationship so vulnerable to disruption after a parents’ divorce? In a divorced family, there are many ways a father-daughter bond may suffer. Based on her research, Dr. Linda Nielsen found that only 10 to 15 percent of fathers get to enjoy the benefits of shared parenting after divorce. Neilson posits that while most daughters are well adjusted several years after their parents’ divorce, many have damaged relationships with their fathers. Unfortunately, if the wound is severe, a girl can grow into adulthood with low-self-esteem and trust issues.
What a girl needs is a loving, predictable father figure—whether married to her mother, single, or divorced. Joshua Coleman, Ph.D., a recognized expert on parenting, explains that one of the predictors of a father’s relationship with his children after divorce is the mother’s facilitation or obstruction of the relationship.
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In his book When Parents Hurt, Dr. Coleman writes, “Mothers who feel wronged in the marriage or divorce, who believe that mothers are more important than fathers, or who have psychological problems may directly or indirectly interfere with the father’s desire to have an ongoing relationship with his children.” Moms can do a lot to support their daughter’s close relationship with their dads by avoiding bad-mouthing them and encouraging regular, ongoing communication and in-person contact.
8 Ways Dads Can Foster Their Daughter’s High Self-Esteem:
- Encourage her to be assertive—such as voicing her opinion even when it’s not popular to do so.
- Create a safe atmosphere for her to express herself—be sure to listen and validate her feelings.
- Direct your praise away from her body and appearance—and comment on her talents and strengths. Saying things such as “You are making such healthy choices” or “Good for you for going for a walk” with encourage her to be active and healthy.
- Don’t bad mouth your ex as this promotes loyalty conflicts and may make it more difficult for her to heal from the losses associated with divorce. Don’t let your cynicism or anger get in the way of your daughter’s future. Don’t pass on your negative views of relationships on to her.
- Protect her from cultural influences that encourage her to be overly competitivewith other girls or young women. Point out what she has to offer the world and help her shine.
- Encouraging her to develop interests, practicing her talents, and recognizing her efforts and strengths will boost your daughter’s confidence in the years to come.
- Spend time doing things she enjoys with her. Encourage her to find healthy outlets such as exercise, joining a club at her school, or participating in a community activity.
- Encourage her to spend close to equal time with both parents. Be flexible about “Parenting Time”—especially as she reaches adolescence and may need more time for friends, school, jobs, and extracurricular activities.
Studies show that patterns of parenting after divorce that lessen conflict, encourage open communication, and promote shared parenting are beneficial for daughters into emerging adulthood. In my recent Huffington Post article, “The Forever Dad: Scattering the Myth of the Self-Centered Dad,” I write “Fostering alienation between a child and his or her dad is one of the cruelest and most selfish acts that a parent can do to his or her own child.”
Since many daughters perceive limited contact with their fathers as a personal rejection, this can lead to lowered self-esteem and trouble trusting romantic partners during adolescence and adulthood. Psychologist Kevin Leman posits that fathers are the key to their daughter’s future. A child development expert, he writes, “That evidence shows that a father’s relationship with his daughter is one of the key determinants in a woman’s ability to enjoy a successful life and marriage.”
Photo—Rolands Lakis/Flickr
Follow Terry on movingpastdivorce.com and order her book “Daughters of Divorce.” In it you’ll find chapter three: Longing for Dear Old Dad: Overcome Your Broken (or missing) Relationship with your Father.
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