Philippine E-Journals

Father Portrait: Adolescent Daughters' Perspective

Alexa P. Abrenica

Discipline: Psychology

 

Abstract:

Very little is known about adolescent daughters’ view of their fathers yet data on this are important in as much as these can provide valuable information to fathers as to what daughters at this stage need, wish their fathers to be and how fathers can relate to them. The study focused on the perceived roles played by fathers as experienced by adolescent daughters based on their descriptions, qualities admired most, and lessons learned from them. Forty-four essays on “My father…” of developmental Psychology students were content analyzed. Positive and negative descriptions were tied to performance of paternal roles. Affect, deficits and excesses were likewise gleaned from the descriptions. Paternal qualities admired by the daughters were mainly personality attributes, achievements, and values. Spirituality and practical wisdom were the main categories of the lessons learned from the fathers. In sum, the portrait painted by the daughters was far from the cold, uninvolved provider of the family.