The mother-daughter tie takes on unique characteristics as daughters enter midlife and mothers enter old age. Incorporating vivid descriptions by mothers and daughters about their relationships, this book addresses both the rewards and the difficulties mothers and daughters experience in maintaining their relationships into old age. Based on interviews with 48 mothers over age 70 and their adult daughters, Dr. Fingerman begins with an overview of this relationship, which, she points out, can be distinguished from other social ties by the strength of the mother-daughter bond. Next she discusses the positive features of this bond and various theories about its social and psychological nature. This discussion is followed by an examination of problems encountered between mothers and daughters. The last section looks at reactions of mothers and daughters to tensions, conflicts, communication problems, and other difficulties.
This excellent study will be of interest not only to researchers in women's and family studies, but any mother and daughter.