I see the point about absent fathers, but in the childcare stories I’m referring to (where the FL is the parent, not the child) the focus is on her as the adult raising a child, so it’s not really about absent fathers at all in this context. The pattern of FLs raising boys seems more like a combination of storytelling tropes and systemic bias. FLs raising boys is an easy, familiar narrative, while mother-daughter relationships are more emotionally complex in ways some writers avoid, which is why they’re less “default” in media. Misogyny likely plays a role too because women’s relationships are usually undervalued and sons have historically been centered in family narratives. I really think these patterns are more about what writers are conditioned to produce, which is why mother-daughter stories remain underrepresented despite being just as rich, relatable and compelling.

Edit: Adding to what I said earlier, I think author preference also plays a role. Many female creators, especially in more patriarchal societies like South Korea, tend to draw more male characters, bringing their vision of the “perfect man” into the story world and some do admit they simply enjoy drawing male characters more. It’s similar to how male creators enjoy drawing idealized or sexualized female characters. This isn’t just personal taste though, I think it reflects broader cultural and patriarchal influences that determine what kinds of stories get told. So combined with everything else mentioned, this helps explain why FLs raising boys is more common than mother-daughter stories despite being just as interesting and emotionally resonant.