Independent daughter being in character (8)
I believe the answer is:
identity
'character' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'independent daughter being' is the wordplay.
'independent' becomes 'i'.
'daughter' becomes 'd'.
'being' becomes 'entity' (I've seen this in other clues).
'i'+'d'+'entity'='IDENTITY'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for identity that I've seen before include "it may precede crisis" , "Specified name of description of tin deity" , "Individuality or singularity" , "Individual characteristics by which one is recognised" , "Sameness; selfhood" .)