How is a present father in a daughters life effective?

Burnsey.: How is a present father in a daughters life effective?
I want to know how a present father in the life of his YOUNG daughter (specifically daughter and specifically 4-11) is affective. What is the role of a father in a daughters life, and what do girls feel like or go through when they do not have a father figure in their life, AND when her mother is mean and emotionally abusive. thank you so much! 🙂
p.s. the father actually died. its not like he just chose to not be present.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Bored and sleepy
Um…well I grew up with my mother and father together, but from what I saw of my friends, not having a father figure seems to leave them lacking in direction a bit sometimes, and they wonder why their dad wasn’t around.

If her mother is mean and emotionally abusive, she should leave, or be taken out of the home.

Oh if the father is dead, and the mother sounds like she is not fit to be a mother, maybe relatives could take the child???

Answer by Nora
every child needs 2 parents. if one dies other people need to be available to fill the role. A girl needs to know that she is attractive, and be shown how to be competent in life. A dad can do a good job of that.

Answer by Hello :-p
I would say that the male role model figure for a young girl sets an example of how a woman should be treated. If you don’t see how your father treats your mother, or even how the father treats the young girl, the girl’s standards for treatment could be lacking in the future.

Another important thing is that you learn things about the opposite sex from your father before anyone else, and the common gender roles (whether you agree with them or not) from your father AND your mother. You see both dad and mom preparing dinner, and you know a future spouse could be in the wrong by calling cooking solely woman’s work.

I agree with needing to know that you’re attractive as a young girl. Doesn’t it mean so much more when dad says you’re looking cute today than it does when mom says it? Good dads make their daughters feel special.

Overall, both parental figures should be available if possible. In the case of a death at least the daughter MAY not suffer from abandonment issues. The mother being mean is a totally separate set of issues. In many cases I’ve seen it either leaves to a lack of self confidence (mother’s are your gender and your role model, so if mother doesn’t approve of you who will?) or plain rebellion.