‘We zeggen “moeders” maar we bedoelen “ouders”’: Percepties en ervaringen met vaderafwezigheid onder Curaçaose, Curaçaos-Nederlandse en Nederlandse jongeren

Perceptions and experiences with biological father absence might vary depending on the extent to which father absence constitutes a common family form, like it does in many Caribbean countries. The goal of this qualitative study was to better understand what it means to grow up without a father present in the household for Curaçaoan (n = 19; 15-24 years), Curaçaoan-Dutch (n = 15; 14-29 years), and Dutch (n = 16; 16-26 years) young men and women. Findings from thematic analyses of ethically approved structured in-depth interviews revealed that most young people from all three cultural groups perceived no bond with and upbringing from their absent father. They noted emotional pain, but also mentioned that (m)others compensated for their father’s absence. Dutch young people were more negative about their absent father and both Dutch and Curaçaoan-Dutch young people experienced more difficulties with respect to their father’s absence compared to Curaçaoan young people. Studying the similarities and differences between perceptions and experiences with father absence enriches our knowledge of what it means to grow up without a father. Doing so from young people’s point of view and across cultures has important practical value by providing a fuller understanding of the meaning of father absence for young people across cultures.