What Dads Can Do for Daughters

What Dads Can Do for Daughters

Here's what the collective research has found about the role dads play with daughters:

• Fathers influence their daughters' lives more as the girls age.
• A girl's relationships with males are influenced by her early relationship with her father.
• Daughters who have high involvement with their fathers show greater nongender-role typing and less sex stereotyping.
• Daughters view their dads as heroes and protectors who embody order and authority.
• A father validates his daughter's dreams and desires.
• A father helps form a daughter's perception of femininity.
• Dads help girls to feel valued.
• Fathers affect in positive ways their daughters' inclinations to achieve.
• Daughters are nurtured by love from both parents.
• Fathers contribute to the development of self-esteem and self-confidence in daughters.
• Dads help their daughters develop a sexual and personal identity that affects their eventual achievements, parenting skills, and marriage.
• Dads convey beliefs and values that are adopted by their daughters.