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What Dads Can Do for Daughters

Read about the importance of a father's influence on his daughter's life.

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.

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