“I married a man I thought I could change – this is why the idea of ‘doer-upper’ relationships is so damaging”

Do-er upper relationships

Credit: Adobe

Relationships


“I married a man I thought I could change – this is why the idea of ‘doer-upper’ relationships is so damaging”

By Florence Scordoulis

5 months ago

7 min read

Romcoms have been peddling the idea that it’s both possible and necessary to change a partner for decades – but what do the real women who’ve fallen into this controversial relationship dynamic really think? And how does an expert relationships therapist advise we handle the urge to try to ‘mould’ someone?


Share this article

Login To Favourite

Sign up for the latest news and must-read features from Stylist, so you don’t miss out on the conversation.

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.

Already a subscriber? Sign In

Get unlimited digital access from £2.99/month

Cancel online anytime