Doing daughtering: an exploration of adult daughters’ constructions of role portrayals in relation to mothers

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study explores the mother-daughter relationship by examining daughters’ constructions of the mother-daughter relationship in adulthood. Using the guiding concepts of symbolic interactionism and interactional role theory, this study explores the discursive constructions of the adult daughter role through daughters’ stories of everyday daughtering. I conducted in-depth interviews with 33 adult daughters in the United States between the ages 25–44, each with a healthy, living mother. Findings indicate that adult daughtering is an effortful and agentic process that contributes to a thriving mother-daughter relationship. Additionally, the agentic performance of adult daughtering is largely hidden from society’s notice resulting in an unfortunate lack of language for role players to discuss it. Practical implications for mother-daughter pairs are discussed and tips are provided for practitioners who help mothers and daughters thrive.