The Construction of the Feminine Identity in Adolescence: A Focus on the Mother and Daughter Relationship

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand the role of the relationship between mother and daughter during the process of construction of the feminine identity in adolescence. Ten adolescent girls from 14 to 18 years of age have participated in this research – they attend either secondary/high school or undergraduate courses and all live with their mothers. A semi-structured script with questions has been used – all applied at the interviews. Content analysis was used in the systematization and analysis of data and the psychoanalytic approach was adopted for discussion. It was observed that the identification was a facilitating aspect to the closest relationship, which enabled a better comprehension of social roles and of the own femininity. The relation between mother and daughter also contributes for the teenager to start thinking about which type of woman she wants to be, representing a starting point, and so afterwards an own feminine identity can be achieved.