Chapter 6, Fathers Summary and Analysis

In this chapter, Dr. Pipher discusses fathers and daughters. Today's fathers are often ill equipped to foster healthy relationships with their daughters since they do not remember relationships like that with their own fathers. In contrast to the sexist, patriarchal values of yesterday, today's fathers need to teach their daughters to resist sexism and harassment. Dr. Pipher explains the double standard that Americans have. People believe that mothers are capable of doing great harm to their children if they mistreat them. Fathers, however, are praised for any attention that they give their children. Dr. Pipher points out that often fathers are the ones that receive the most credit for raising a strong daughter. However, her years of practice show that strong daughters often come from families with strong mothers.

Dr. Pipher lists three types of father-daughter relationships: supportive, distant...