The invisible work of being a daughter, with Allison Alford, PhD

The podcast explores the concept of "daughtering," the often invisible work adult daughters do to maintain family connections. Dr. Allison Alford, communication studies professor and author of "Good Daughtering," explains that daughtering includes instrumental labor, emotional support, planning, and identity work. This labor is often unacknowledged, leading to feelings of inadequacy and burnout. The discussion covers how societal and familial expectations shape daughtering roles, the impact of sibling order (addressing "eldest daughter syndrome"), and how these dynamics shift when there are no daughters in a family. Alford also touches on how physical distance and the COVID-19 pandemic have reshaped daughtering practices, emphasizing the importance of open communication, boundary setting, and recognizing the benefits and enjoyment derived from family relationships.