Traditionally mothers are considered and in fact do have a big influence on daughters and how they evolve as part of society. However it’s interesting to know fathers have an equally great impact on a daughter’s psychosexual development.

While it is important that a daughter identifies with her mother, it is hypothesized (by Dr. Meg Meeker in her book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know ) that a woman’s self-esteem, self-definition, comfort with her femininity, and comfort with her sexuality are also influenced by her father’s acceptance. (Fisher, S. 1989. Sexual Images of the Self: The Psychology of Erotic Sensations and Illusions. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.)

Without a proper example of a strong, kind, and moral father-figure, females are often confused as to how they should be treated by future men who will inevitably come into their life. An attentive, loving, and considerate male role model provides a paradigm for a future boyfriend or husband.

A joint study by the Christchurch School of Medicine and three American universities in 2003 found the absence of a father was strongly linked to early or risky sexual activity. Out of 800 girls in the study, one in four got pregnant as teenagers amongst those whose fathers left the family before they were five. For those whose fathers were there in the early years, the pregnancy rate was one in 30.

To be continued…

Sources:

1. The Relationship Between Fatherly Affirmation and a Woman’s Self-Esteem, Fear of Intimacy, Comfort with Womanhood, and Comfort with Sexuality-The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, Vol. 8(1) Spring 1999,p.39-45,by Tanya S. Scheffler and Peter J. Naus, University of St. Jerome’s College, Waterloo, Ontario
2. Fathers influence on daughters