The Effects of Father Influences The Effects of Father Influences on Female Psychosocial on Female Psychosocial

Development Development Father/Daughter Relationship DynamicsFather/Daughter Relationship Dynamics

African Americans have lower rates of marriage and marital stability than all other ethnic groups in the U.S.

Over the last two decades, the increasingly visible conflict between African-American men and women has come to the public’s attention in many forms thus, prompting the Department of Health and Human Services to establish the African-American Healthy Marriage Initiative (AAHMI).

This initiative reported crisis level statistics:

Statistics on Marriage, Divorce, and Living Arrangements

Although, the number of interracial marriages in Although, the number of interracial marriages in the United States has been on the rise:the United States has been on the rise:

The homophily principleThe homophily principle(contact between people within similar cultures (contact between people within similar cultures occurs at a higher rate than among those of occurs at a higher rate than among those of

dissimilar cultures),dissimilar cultures),

This principal is saidThis principal is said to to structures network ties structures network ties of every type, including marriageof every type, including marriage

Are African American men and women simply Are African American men and women simply not coming in contact with one another? not coming in contact with one another?

Clearly African American men and women Clearly African American men and women commonly live, shop, attend churches and commonly live, shop, attend churches and play within the same communities. play within the same communities.

Thus it seems probable that, the rate of Thus it seems probable that, the rate of African-American relationships and, African-American relationships and, marriages should increase due to the marriages should increase due to the mere propinquity in their everyday shared mere propinquity in their everyday shared life experiences.life experiences.

An increasing number of African-American An increasing number of African-American (A.A.) women report experiencing a (A.A.) women report experiencing a relationship crisis, specifically educated relationship crisis, specifically educated women, who often attribute their single women, who often attribute their single status to a significantly small A.A. male status to a significantly small A.A. male dating pool. dating pool.

A.A. women are said to experience this A.A. women are said to experience this crisis in their unsuccessful attempts at:crisis in their unsuccessful attempts at:

datingdating

forging relationshipsforging relationships

becoming marriedbecoming married

remaining together with African-American remaining together with African-American men. men.

What are the possible causal pathways for What are the possible causal pathways for the deterioration of A.A. male/female the deterioration of A.A. male/female relationships? relationships?

An approach to understanding these An approach to understanding these relationships can began by exploring the relationships can began by exploring the primary male-female relationship; fathers primary male-female relationship; fathers and daughters and daughters

When questioned about their primary relationship When questioned about their primary relationship (father/daughter), many of the participants (90%) (father/daughter), many of the participants (90%) in my study of African American daughters age in my study of African American daughters age 21-26 expressed fond memories of pretend 21-26 expressed fond memories of pretend horseback rides, taking photos, outings, walks to horseback rides, taking photos, outings, walks to school, watching dad prepare meals, acting silly school, watching dad prepare meals, acting silly and receiving compliments. They described their and receiving compliments. They described their dads as warm, funny, loving and enjoyable to be dads as warm, funny, loving and enjoyable to be with. They were simply with. They were simply Daddy’s Little GirlDaddy’s Little Girl. I like to . I like to refer this moment in time the “refer this moment in time the “Sanctuary PhaseSanctuary Phase”. ”.

What happens over time (after the What happens over time (after the Sanctuary Phase), to the fathers whose Sanctuary Phase), to the fathers whose daughters described the first decade of daughters described the first decade of their relationship so fondly? their relationship so fondly?

A large number of respondents said their A large number of respondents said their fathers began to disconnect from them, let fathers began to disconnect from them, let them down and disappoint them time and them down and disappoint them time and time again time again

DisappointmentDisappointment

Lost trustLost trust

Emotional disconnectionEmotional disconnection

Abandonment. Abandonment.

The challenge it seems is in understanding and The challenge it seems is in understanding and identifying why, and at what point, the a identifying why, and at what point, the a disconnect occurs in the father-daughter disconnect occurs in the father-daughter relationshipsrelationships

What factors contribute to it’s deterioration?. What factors contribute to it’s deterioration?.

Looking at fathers and daughters through Looking at fathers and daughters through a developmental lens offers a new way to a developmental lens offers a new way to understand some the complexities of their understand some the complexities of their relationship and the areas in which they relationship and the areas in which they likely struggle as they learn to connect, likely struggle as they learn to connect, remain connected.remain connected.

For more information or to schedule a father/daughter workshop in your area contact:

Karen Davis-Johnson, MSWCultural Enrichment Center (CEC) Parenting CollegeDads and Daughters Network ©

708-372-2504

Email: coachkarenj@yahoo.comlog: http://4dadsanddaughters.blogspot.com/