# The invisible work of being a daughter, with Allison Alford, PhD

An episode of [Speaking of Psychology](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/705934263), 4 Feb 2026, 39 min.

Audio: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/AMERICANPSYCHOLOGICALASSOCIATION2404610938.mp3?updated=1769716136

For many women, being a daughter is not just a family role – it’s a lifelong job. Dr. Allison Alford discusses what she calls “daughtering”: the work of managing family dynamics, from coordinating schedules to soothing emotions to worrying about a parent’s future. She discusses why these expectations fall on daughters; why the work often goes unrecognized; the role of birth order and “eldest daughter syndrome”; and how daughters and families can rethink their roles to make them sustainable and fulfilling for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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