Dismantling the “Daddy Issues” Trope
The term “daddy issues” has been around for ages and has been turning women’s trauma into something to categorize them with, while damaging their mental health. The characteristics of having these so-called “daddy issues” have been normalized and over-sexualized for years, starting as early as childhood. This outdated phrase has created an extremely harmful and problematic stigma, damaging countless women and negatively impacting their mental health. This phrase has ultimately made a mockery of these women’s experiences with their fathers, adding to their trauma and using it as a way to sexualize and categorize them.
The most inappropriate and problematic part about the daddy issues trend is the way it sexualizes young girls and women. More often than not, this sexualization begins when these girls are minors, making it all that more disturbing. Men use this phrase as a way to categorize women, believing that women with these characteristics are “easier” than women without. Anyone who looks at young girls and women through this inappropriate lens can shove it.
Nothing quite explains how women are blamed for the faults of men quite like the “daddy issues” trope. This toxic phrase is used as a way to deflect blame from an absent father and onto the young girl experiencing the trauma. It blames young girls for how their fathers abandoned or mistreated them when they were growing up, justifying future blame on them for any abuse or mistreatment they may experience later in life as women. This victim-blaming takes away all the guilt from the absent father, making the daughter feel unnecessary guilt, ultimately traumatizing the young girls even more. The cycle of victim-blaming is never ending. The male population has created this trope as an attempt to dissipate their own bad behavior by making the woman seem like the issue.
Women often feed into this trope themselves since the ideology has been engraved in their minds since childhood. They grew up being told that their father’s mistakes were their own fault, ultimately causing them to experience unnecessary blame and guilt. Their “daddy issues” become a part of their identity, often creating bonds with others who have experienced similar trauma. It’s common for these young girls and women to joke about their “daddy issues.” In a way it can add comedic relief to the situation, which is a common trauma response, but feeding into the jokes does more harm than good. This attempted comedic relief is one way women try to cope with the pain of having a toxic parent, but is ultimately an unhealthy processing tactic.
It’s time for these absent or abusive fathers to face responsibility for their actions, and come to terms with their mistakes. Women are not any weaker due to the lack of an ideal father figure, and they learn to overcome pain and trauma without the support of a father. The same women are harassed and over-sexualized by men that categorize them and treat them as “easy.” Although it can be challenging, it’s important for all women to separate themselves from any family problems. Women do not deserve to be blamed or treated differently due to the lack of an ideal father figure, and it’s time to put an end to this harmful and disgusting trope.