Absence is the notion that one is nonexistent or has departed from person or place for an extended period of time. In today’s society, the divorce rate has climbed to nearly 50 percent, often resulting in single-parent households led by mothers. In some of these single-parent homes, the relationship between the childern and their fathers is fractured. There is research which asserts that women who have not had a relationship with their father or father figure are more likely to experience issues such as low self-esteem, poverty, unplanned pregnancy, and higher college drop-out rates. In addition, some research suggest that fatherless daughters are more likely to engage in sexually promiscuous behavior. This thesis will explore the research linking father absence to daughter problems, specifically from young women at Spelman College. This research is conducted by interviewing and administering a survey to a convenience sample of "fatherless daughters "- students who have spent most of the life without the presence of their father. Findings from the literature point to the importance of father’s presence in their daughters’ lives. The research will examine both negative and positive impacts of father absence on their daughters lives.
