The relationship between the first female child and her father is a topic widely studied in the areas of behavioral science, developmental psychology and genetics. Studies indicate that the first daughter can develop an intense identification with her father, incorporating many of his characteristics, both behavioral and genetic. This identification dynamic is observed regardless of the parents’ marital status, whether in nuclear families or in separated-parent contexts.
Keller and Zach (2002) investigated parental behavior based on gender and birth order, revealing that fathers tend to prefer face-to-face interactions with their daughters, especially in environments where both parents are present. This paternal behavior suggests a predisposition on the part of fathers to become more directly involved with their daughters, facilitating the transmission of behavioral and personality characteristics from the father to the daughter. Additionally, Rosenberg and Hyde (1993) showed that fathers express more affection and emotionally invest more in their daughters than in their sons, further reinforcing the first daughter’s identification with her father. This phenomenon is fundamental to the formation of a daughter’s identity, influencing her attitudes, behaviors and even her political preferences, as observed by Sharrow et al. (2018), who demonstrated that fathers of first daughters are more likely to support gender equality policies.
In addition to behavioral aspects, the bond between the first daughter and her father includes significant genetic components. Stafford (1961) explored parental correlates of psychological traits, especially in spatial visualization abilities, and found evidence of sex-linked inheritance. This study demonstrated that daughters tend to inherit certain spatial visualization abilities from their fathers, due to the transmission of genes located on the X chromosome, which daughters receive from their fathers, while sons receive the Y chromosome. Bender’s (2013) research on Women’s social identities in fifteenth-century Florence suggest that daughters’ identities were strongly associated with their fathers, even in contexts of frequent changes in marital status and legal custody. This patrilineal connection permanently identified women with their natal families, reflecting a lasting and practical connection with their parents. Olivetti and Paserman (2013) focused on intergenerational mobility in the United States, highlighting that first-born daughters had similar economic and social trends to those of their parents, reinforcing the idea of a strong socioeconomic link that can be partially attributed to genetic transmission and direct behavioral influences .
In short, the first female daughter tends to establish a strong bond with her father, absorbing many of his characteristics through behavioral and genetic factors. The differentiated attention and affection given by parents to their first-born daughters can enhance this bond, significantly impacting their identity and personal characteristics. This relationship influences not only the personal and emotional development of daughters, but also their social interactions and world views.
References
Keller, H., & Zach, U. (2002). Gender and birth order as determinants of parental behavior. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 26(2), 177-187. doi:10.1080/01650250042000663.
Rosenberg, B. G., & Hyde, J. S. (1993). Differential socialization of only and first-born children. Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development meetings, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sharrow, EA, Rhodes, JH, Nteta, TM, & Greenlee, JS (2018). The first-daughter effect: The impact of fathering daughters on men’s preferences for gender-equality policies. Public Opinion Quarterly, 82(3), 493-523. doi:10.1093/poq/nfy037.
Stafford, R. E. (1961). Sex differences in spatial visualization as evidence of sex-linked inheritance. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 13(3), 428-432. doi:10.2466/PMS.1961.13.3.428.
Bender, T. (2013). Their Fathers’ Daughters: Women’s Social Identities in Fifteenth-century Florence. Journal of Family History, 38(3), 285-306. doi:10.1177/0363199013491209.
Olivetti, C., & Paserman, M. D. (2013). In the Name of the Son (and the Daughter): Intergenerational Mobility in the United States, 1850-1930. National Bureau of Economic Research.
