The invisible work of being a daughter, with Allison Alford, PhD
HomeSpeaking of Psychology › Episode

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

39:12 Feb 4, 2026
About this episode
For many women, being a daughter is not just a family role – it’s a lifelong job. Dr. Allison Alford discusses what she calls “daughtering”: the work of managing family dynamics, from coordinating schedules to soothing emotions to worrying about a parent’s future. She discusses why these expectations fall on daughters; why the work often goes unrecognized; the role of birth order and “eldest daughter syndrome”; and how daughters and families can rethink their roles to make them sustainable and fulfilling for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Select an episode
0:00 0:00