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 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 in-depth interviews revealed that most interviewees from all three cultural groups perceived no bond with and upbringing from their absent father. The interviewees noted emotional pain, but also mentioned that (m)others compensated for their father’s absence. Dutch interviewees were more negative about their absent father, and both Dutch and Curaçaoan-Dutch interviewees experienced more difficulties with respect to their father’s absence compared with Curaçaoan interviewees. 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.

像许多加勒比海国家一样，亲生父亲缺席的观念和经验可能会有所不同，具体取决于父亲缺席构成一种常见家庭形式的程度。这项定性研究的目的是更好地了解没有父亲的库拉索人（n = 19; 15–24岁），库拉索人-荷兰人（n = 15; 14–29岁）和荷兰人（n= 16; 16-26岁）。对符合道德标准的深度访谈进行专题分析得出的结果表明，来自所有三个文化群体的大多数受访者都认为与他们不在世的父亲没有联系，也没有与其养育子女的关系。受访者注意到了情绪上的痛苦，但也提到了（多）其他人补偿了父亲的缺席。荷兰受访者对父亲不在的情况更为负面，与库拉索受访者相比，荷兰人和库拉索-荷兰人的受访者在父亲缺席方面遇到了更多的困难。研究父亲缺席的观念和经历之间的异同，可以丰富我们对没有父亲成长的含义的认识。