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

Babul, a life coach, and Luise, a counselor and inspirational speaker, join their expertise and experiences—both grew up without their biological fathers—in this wide-ranging look at how fatherlessness affects women. Their text (as well as a forthcoming documentary) draws on over 1,000 interviews and a social media survey to conclude that the loss or absence of a father can cause a woman to suffer effects that include self-doubt, sadness, anger, fear, resentment, and difficulty trusting. They discuss the primary ways that loss can occur, such as divorce, death, abandonment, and incarceration, and explore how age at the time of loss affects a daughter’s response. On the flip side, they find that fatherless daughters also exhibit strength, resilience, and self-awareness, among other positive traits. About 91 percent of the women surveyed have “something they wished to say” to the fathers they lost, so the authors offer advice on when to give an emotionally estranged father another chance, and when to maintain distance (such as in the case of physical or emotional abuse). With interesting personal stories woven throughout, fatherless daughters will find this to be a supportive and encouraging guidebook to reclaiming their lives and healing their wounds. (June)