"Bridging the Gap": Lived Experiences of Daughters with Overseas-Filipino-Worker (OFW) Fathers

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences, both positive and negative, of daughters with OFW fathers. It also described what fatherhood means to them and what strategies they employed to cope with the long physical absence of their fathers. To enrich and triangulate the data, the study used concurrent data on the lived experiences of daughters with non-OFW fathers. Phenomenology was used as a theoretical and methodical approach in pursuing the study. In-depth interviews were conducted to purposive samples of 20 participants: 10 daughters with OFW fathers and 10 daughters with non-OFW fathers. The data were summarized and analyzed using the general analytic approach of phenomenology developed by Moustakas (1994). From the analyses, themes on the positive and negative experiences of the daughters of OFW fathers were drawn. These were presented using textural and structural descriptions. The coping experiences were also analyzed and presented using Lazarus & Folkman's (1984) analytical and descriptive tools on problem- focused-coping, emotion-focused and meaning-focused coping. In essence, a father^ physical absence is irreplaceable. It plays a vital role in developing a sense of security and comfort among adolescent daughters. Among OFW fathers, this is compensated through psychical, virtual and material means. Thus, this is where the dynamics of short visits, cyber technology, maternal parenting and dollar remittances play compensatory functions.