Caught between growing up and family struggles: Adolescents’ gaze at love, hatred, and conflicts in “Dear Ex”

Abstract

ABSTRACT This creative piece interweaves social work perspectives with the narrative of the 2018 Taiwanese comedy-drama film, “Dear Ex.” I delve into the complex interpersonal dynamics among the characters: a father struggling with his hidden sexuality and eventual passing, a wife grappling with acceptance of homosexuality while tending to assign blame to a third party, the man involved in a same-sex relationship with the father navigating the loss of his lover, and a child caught in the knotty interplay of these adult affairs. This analysis specifically explores themes such as mixed-orientation relationships, the emotional withdrawal of adolescents, the contrast between Asian “guilt trip” parenting and Western parenting, the unique dynamics of adolescent-counselor relationships, and the concept that “shared suffering breeds companionship” within modern families. The piece concludes by applying the notion of social tensegrity to shed light on the intricate structures within families. It provides meaningful enlightenment for social workers, counselors, and researchers working with adolescents in diverse family contexts.