Tag Archives: Daughters

How mistrust of men prevents fathers from parenting daughters

Stuart Schneiderman explains how the war against men has made it harder for fathers to parent their daughters.

Excerpt:

In today’s America a man knows that he can be sued for workplace sexual harassment if he looks at a woman in the wrong way, if he makes a sexually suggestive remark, or if he touches her inappropriately.

He also knows that children, especially female children, are strictly off limits. Speak to his daughter in the wrong way and a man can find himself charged with child molestation. Even when the charges are false, it is very, very difficult to restore a reputation tarnished by the suspicion of child abuse.

It isn’t easy being a man in America today. The culture has made men into a threat, into the enemy of women and girls.

Not everywhere, not for everyone, but enough of the time for men to be wary in their dealings with female children.

The attacks on men, the stigmatization of men, the distrust about their motives have created a cultural miasma. If you were a father living in such a culture, would you want to talk about sex with your preteen daughter?

The toxic environment produced by the war against men has made men more likely to shut down lines of communication with their daughters.

Then, these same men are criticized for being too reticent, for not opening up, and for not expressing themselves.

The culture strongly encourages girls to discuss intimate matters only with other women. Who but a woman would understand a woman’s experience?

Of course, this deprives girls of a good relationship with the most important man in their lives. And it also tells them that the only people they should listen to are people who are just like them.

His post was linked by Instapundit and Helen Reynolds. It’s a great post. Some women are so busy bad-mouthing men that they don’t realize that men shut down and withdraw from family life unless they get encouragement and respect. Men rise to the expectations of women.

How strong fathers are a positive influence on their daughters

An interview with Dr. Meg Meeker! (H/T Andrew)

Questions answered in the interview:

  • Q: Why are fathers so important?
  • Q: What are fathers doing wrong?
  • Q: What are fathers doing right?
  • Q: Can an absent or irresponsible father make up for lost time?
  • Q: What is the most important thing a father should know?
  • Q: Any tips for being the kind of father a daughter really needs?

Excerpt:

Fathers carry an authority in children’s eyes that is different from their mother’s. Fathers are also pivotal in the development of a healthy sexuality in a daughter’s life. Girls who have a good relationship with their dads are shown to: have a higher self-esteem, be less likely to become sexually active at an early age, less likely to experience depression, less likely to develop an eating disorder and typically have a higher GPA in high school. Also, the most effective way to bolster a girl’s self esteem is through getting physical affection from her father.

There is a lot of useful information summarized in this short little interview.