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Fathers and daughters: The father's contribution to feminine identification in girls as depicted in fairy tales and myths

Fathers and daughters: The father's contribution to feminine identification in girls as depicted... FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS: THE FATHER'S CONTRIBUTION TO FEMININE IDENTIFICATION IN GIRLS AS DEPICTED IN FAIRY TALES AND MYTHS Clarice J. Kestenbaum The unique significance of the mother-child relationship has been ex- plored for decades. Less has been written about the role of the father in early childhood. In fact, it was a commonly held belief that fathers had little influence on their children's development until the oedipal years. Femi- nine behavior in girls, it was presumed, was derived chiefly from identifica- tion with the maternal figure. The daughter is implicitly female as is her mother; she imitates her mother's behavior, and her primary identification is with her mother. But it is not only the mother who helps to establish a feminine identification; fathers as well as mothers contribute to the devel- opment of the female self-concept. According to Leonard, 1 fathering pro- vides nurturing affection, guidance, approval, and availability to love and be loved, admired, emulated, and obeyed. Moreover, the father also serves as a model for identification and superego formation. "Femininity," Biller wrote, "is a positive feeling about being a female and a particular pattern of interpersonal behavior. "2 It is not merely a question of whether or http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The American Journal of Psychoanalysis Springer Journals

Fathers and daughters: The father's contribution to feminine identification in girls as depicted in fairy tales and myths

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References (23)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
1983 Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis
ISSN
0002-9548
eISSN
1573-6741
DOI
10.1007/BF01253471
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS: THE FATHER'S CONTRIBUTION TO FEMININE IDENTIFICATION IN GIRLS AS DEPICTED IN FAIRY TALES AND MYTHS Clarice J. Kestenbaum The unique significance of the mother-child relationship has been ex- plored for decades. Less has been written about the role of the father in early childhood. In fact, it was a commonly held belief that fathers had little influence on their children's development until the oedipal years. Femi- nine behavior in girls, it was presumed, was derived chiefly from identifica- tion with the maternal figure. The daughter is implicitly female as is her mother; she imitates her mother's behavior, and her primary identification is with her mother. But it is not only the mother who helps to establish a feminine identification; fathers as well as mothers contribute to the devel- opment of the female self-concept. According to Leonard, 1 fathering pro- vides nurturing affection, guidance, approval, and availability to love and be loved, admired, emulated, and obeyed. Moreover, the father also serves as a model for identification and superego formation. "Femininity," Biller wrote, "is a positive feeling about being a female and a particular pattern of interpersonal behavior. "2 It is not merely a question of whether or

Journal

The American Journal of PsychoanalysisSpringer Journals

Published: Jun 1, 1983

Keywords: Clinical Psychology; Psychotherapy; Psychoanalysis

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