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3 Things Little Girls Need From Their Fathers
Joyce McFadden outlines ways fathers can be more communicative with their daughters about sexuality.
A recent post I wrote highlighting for mothers the role sexual development plays in their daughters’ overall happiness was incredibly well-received. Since it went viral, I’ve gotten many requests to write one for fathers. So here it is.
A little girl needs her father’s support in her unfolding sexual development because it helps secure three hugely important facets of how she’ll see herself in the world throughout her life. You’ll influence her level of personal confidence, her body comfort, and pride, and you’ll set her expectations for the way she should be treated by boys and men.
Even though fathers only want the best for their daughters, when asked to contemplate the idea that they should play an active role in guiding their daughters as they transition from little girl to big girl, to young woman, they squirm. They wince. They slam their eyes shut in an effort to make it stop. They say, “Go ask your mother.”
This is exactly the kind of response I’m going to ask fathers to reconsider because your daughters really do need you.
