Background: The emotional construction of women who experience step motherhood is influenced by the habitus preserved in the cultural memory of society. It is known that stepmothers experience negative emotional states due to the issues they face in blended families. This study focuses on the emotions of women who have experienced being stepdaughters. The inadequacy of studies focusing solely on the feelings and thoughts of stepdaughters leads to insufficient solutions for blended family issues.
Aim: The aim of this study is to understand how the emotional construction of women who have experienced being stepdaughters is formed and to compare the emotions of stepdaughters with those of stepmothers. The study does not include stepmothers; information about the emotions of stepmothers was obtained from existing literature. Understanding the emotions of women who have experienced being stepdaughters will provide insights into their current and future behaviors. This data will contribute to practical solutions for problems in blended families.
Method: In-depth interviews were conducted with seven women who have experienced being stepdaughters; six are married with children, and one is single and childless. The data were analyzed using discourse analysis. When discourse, which is an expression of emotions and thoughts, is meticulously analyzed, it reveals the in-depth characteristics of the person we aim to understand. Therefore, the discourse analysis method was preferred in this research.
Findings: The study revealed the following emotional experiences in women who have experienced being stepdaughters:
Conclusion: Implementing ongoing programs that deconstruct cultural constructs about step motherhood and step daughterhood for members of blended families will contribute to solving current and potential issues by fostering healthy relationships. The reciprocal emotions of stepmothers and stepdaughters highlight the necessity of family therapies.
