essay 3 final

Krista Carter

Professor Kerr

EN101-5

October 24, 2010

The Importance of a Father

            Throughout life, it’s important for a girl to have her mother involved in her life, as well as her father. Fathers commonly underestimate the importance of a good relationship with their daughter (Mack). Often, girls do not have a good relationship with their father, whether it’s due to divorce, death, incarceration, or a lack of interest. This is extremely unfortunate because a father is the most important man in a girl’s life (Stimpson). The interaction of a father in his daughter’s life affects her emotionally, socially, and physically.

            The absence of a father, no matter the reason, emotionally affects a girl in a negative way. Phame Camarena, a Purdue University researcher, states, “Dads are generally as important to the emotional well-being and adjustment of their kids as moms are” (“Dad and Daughter”).  Losing a father due to death, divorce, or even due to lack of interest can be devastating (Mack). To an adolescent aged daughter, the common effects of an absent father are depression and anger (Mack). Purdue University professor, Pamela Sarigiani, found that eighth grade girls who said they did not have a close relationship with their fathers showed a significantly higher rate of depression than girls who said they have a close relationship with their father (“Dad and Daughter”). Sarigiani then stated, “We expected to find the same pattern among girls who said they didn’t get along well with their mothers, but we didn’t” (qtd. in “Dad and Daughter”). It’s likely for a number of girls to fear failure and rejection because they feel as though the lack of a good relationship with their father is their fault (Mack). This research shows that fathers do play an important role in their daughter’s emotional development.

            Whether or not a father interacts in his daughter’s life affects her socially. Most importantly, a father’s interactions with his daughter set her up or prepare her for how she is going to interact in future relationships with other men (Mack). Successful future relationships with males are dependent on a good father-daughter relationship. In her book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, Dr. Meg Meeker explains, “Daughters watch their dads like hawks. They watch not only how he treats her, but also how he treats her mom” (Stimpson). If a girl has an absent father, it’s likely that she will not develop good relationships with other males because she didn’t receive what she needed from her father. On the other hand, if a girl has an active father, it’s more likely that she will choose men who treat her well because that is what she experienced and watched at home. When a girl is developing relationships with other males, her father should remember that adolescent age girls have a strong need for male attention and affection (Stimpson). Therefore, if he is depriving his daughter of attention and affection, she will proceed to seek it in her social life from male friendships or from sexual relationships (Stimpson).

            A good father-daughter relationship also physically affects a girl. Purdue University researcher, Phame Camarena, indicates that a critical time when a girl needs her father is during adolescence when she is physically changing (“Dad and Daughter”). At this point in adolescence, a girl’s appearance is rapidly changing. Sudden, rapid changes, such as those that occur during puberty, often cause insecurities. Ironically, at a point in life and development where a girl may need her dad the most, it’s common for even an active father to pull away because he is uncomfortable with the situation (“Dad and Daughter”). In life changing situations when a father excludes himself from his daughter’s life, she flounders (Stimpson). Exclusion will end in mistrust. If a girl learns to trust her father, it will be much easier for her to physically and emotionally trust her future husband along with other men she has relationships with (Stimpson).

            A father is a necessary person in a girl’s life. Fathers should realize how important they are in their daughter’s life, no matter what situation the family is in. Since a father is the most important male in a girl’s life, he should also be the one that a girl can always trust (Stimpson). His important role can and will impact the emotional development, the social development, and the physical development of his daughter.

                                                                 Works Cited

"Dad and Daughter - a Special Bond - Fathers Affect Girls' Emotional Adjustment." Bnet. Gale Group, 2004. Web. 20 Oct 2010. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2572_v121/ai_13358877/

Mack, Melodie. "The Importance of the Father/Daughter Relationship ." Healing Hearts & Families Counseling. Healing Hearts & Families, 2008. Web. 20 Oct 2010. http://www.healinghearts-families.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68:theimportanceofthefatherdaughterrelationship&catid=37:families&Itemid=56

Stimpson, Emily. "The Father-Daughter Factor." Fathers For Good. Knights Of Columbus, 15 Jun 2008. Web. 20 Oct 2010.  http://www.fathersforgood.org/ffg/en/common_challenges/factor.html

Essay 3 rough draft

Krista Carter

Professor Kerr

EN101-5

October 24, 2010

The Importance of a Father

            Throughout life, it’s important for a girl to have her mother involved in her life, as well as her father. Fathers commonly underestimate the importance of a good relationship with their daughter (Mack). Often, girls do not have a good relationship with their father, whether it’s due to divorce, death, incarceration, or a lack of interest. This is extremely unfortunate because a father is the most important man in a girl’s life (Stimpson). The interaction of a father in his daughter’s life affects her emotionally, socially, and physically.

            The absence of a father, no matter the reason, emotionally affects a girl in a negative way. Losing a father due to death, divorce, or even due to lack of interest can be devastating (Mack). To an adolescent aged daughter, the common effects of an absent father are depression and anger (Mack). It’s likely for a number of girls to fear failure and rejection because they feel as though the lack of a good relationship with their father is their fault (Mack). Usually, mothers or mother figures are viewed as the parent who should deal with the emotions of children, especially girls. Phame Camarena, a Purdue University researcher, states, “Dads are generally as important to the emotional well-being and adjustment of their kids as moms are” (“Dad”). Purdue University professor, Pamela Sarigiani, found that eighth grade girls who said they did not have a close relationship with their fathers showed a significantly higher rate of depression than girls who said they have a close relationship with their father (“Dad”). Sarigiani then stated, “We expected to find the same pattern among girls who said they didn’t get along well with their mothers, but we didn’t” (“Dad”). This research shows that fathers do play an important role in their daughter’s emotional development.

            Whether or not a father interacts in his daughter’s life affects her socially. Most importantly, a father’s interactions with his daughter set her up or prepare her for how she is going to interact in future relationships with other men (Mack). Successful future relationships with males are dependent on a good father-daughter relationship. In her book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, Dr. Meg Meeker explains, “Daughters watch their dads like hawks. They watch not only how he treats her, but also how he treats her mom” (Stimpson). If a girl has an absent father, it’s likely that she will not develop good relationships with other males because she didn’t receive what she needed from her father. On the other hand, if a girl has an active father, it’s more likely that she will choose men who treat her well because that is what she experienced and watched at home. When a girl is developing relationships with other males, her father should remember that adolescent age girls have a strong need for male attention and affection (Stimpson). Therefore, if he is depriving his daughter of attention and affection, she will proceed to seek it in her social life from male friendships or from sexual relationships (Stimpson).

            A good father-daughter relationship also physically affects a girl. Purdue University researcher, Phame Camarena, indicates that a critical time when a girl needs her father is during adolescence when she is physically changing (“Dad”). At this point in adolescence, a girl’s appearance is rapidly changing. Sudden, rapid changes, such as those that occur during puberty, often cause insecurities. Ironically, at a point in life and development where a girl may need her dad the most, it’s common for even an active father to pull away because he is uncomfortable with the situation (“Dad”). In life changing situations when a father excludes himself from his daughter’s life, she flounders (Stimpson). Exclusion will end in mistrust. If a girl learns to trust her father, it will be much easier for her to physically and emotionally trust her future husband along with other men she has relationships with (Stimpson).

            A father is a necessary person in a girl’s life. Fathers should realize how important they are in their daughter’s life, no matter what situation the family is in. Since a father is the most important male in a girl’s life, he should also be the one that a girl can always trust (Stimpson). His important role can and will impact the emotional development, the social development, and the physical development of his daughter.

                                                                       Works Cited

"Dad and Daughter - a Special Bond - Fathers Affect Girls' Emotional Adjustment." Bnet. Gale Group, 2004. Web. 20 Oct 2010. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2572_v121/ai_13358877/

Mack, Melodie. "The Importance of the Father/Daughter Relationship ." Healing Hearts & Families Counseling. Healing Hearts & Families, 2008. Web. 20 Oct 2010. http://www.healinghearts-families.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68:theimportanceofthefatherdaughterrelationship&catid=37:families&Itemid=56

Stimpson, Emily. "The Father-Daughter Factor." Fathers For Good. Knights Of Columbus, 15 Jun 2008. Web. 20 Oct 2010.  http://www.fathersforgood.org/ffg/en/common_challenges/factor.html

Essay 3 Questions

Why is it important for a girl to have her father in ther life?
    It's important for a father to be in his daughter's life because he is usually the first man she knows.

  A girl naturally views her dad as a leader, a protector, and a provider. Fathers hae tremendous power over their daughters. 

How is a girl affected emotionally when her father isn't in her life?
  The number one influence on a girl's self esteem is affection from her dad.

  Being without a father can cause a girl to become depressed, angry, or to fear failure and rejection.


How is a girl affected physically when her father isn't in her life?
  Girls, especially during their teenage years, need male attention. If a girl doesn't have a father in her life, she will seek that needed attention from male friendships or from sexual relationships.


Does the interaction of a father in his daughter's life (or the lack there of) impact her relationships with other males?
 A father's relationship with his daughter set her up for how she's going to relate to other men.

 If a girl learns to trust her father, it will be easier for her to trust her future husband and other men that she has any kind of relationship with.

Essay 3 Outline and Purpose

Purpose: My purpose in this essay is to analyze the effects that an absent or inactive father has on a girl emotionally, socially, and physically.

Thesis: The interaction of a father in his daughter's life affects her emotionally, socially, and physically.

Introduction:
-It's important for kids to have both parents involved in their lives.
-Father's don't realize how important their role is in their daughter's life.

Emotional Effects:
-Loss of a father can be devastating
-Girls with absent fathers are often depressed, angry, and fear rejection.
-Depression in young girls relates to their relationship with their father.

Social Effects:
-A father sets a girl up for how she will interact in future relationships with other males.
-A successful relationship with a male is dependent on a good father-daughter relationship.
-Adolescent age girls seek and need male attention.

Physical Effects:
-A girl needs her dad the most during puberty, when she is changing physically.
-At this point in a girl's life, dad usually backs out because he feels uncomfortable with the situation.

Conclusion:
-No matter what the situation is, a girl needs her father or at least a father figure in her life.
-Fathers are the most important man in a girl's life.

Essay 2 partial draft

Krista Carter

Professor Kerr

EN101-5

October 5, 2010

Essay 2

            A father is the most important man in a girl’s life (Meeker). He should not only be a person a girl can turn to for support and stability in life, but also someone to have fun with (Appleton). In the last forty five years, the United States of America has become one of the world leaders in fatherless families (Venish). There are several reasons why fathers aren’t always actively involved in their daughter’s lives including: death, divorce, incarceration, or a lack of interest. No matter the reason, the lack of a father will change a girl. Girls who grew up without a father in their life will differ in their relationships, their educational and professional success, and their levels of self-esteem when compared to girls who grew up with a father in their life.

            A father’s interactions with his daughter set her up for how she will relate to other men (Meeker). They will also allow a girl to develop expectations from men in future relationships (Kelly). Girls who grow up without their father playing an active role in their life are unfortunately deprived of this experience. Without an active father, the ability of a girl to have healthy relationships with other men completely flounders or falls apart (Meeker). This inability is likely to cause relationship problems for the remainder of the girl’s life. There is a high proportion of girls who grew up in situations with negative father-daughter relationships who become involved in bad relationships with other males (Cucchiara). This is likely because the girl experienced a bad father-daughter relationship with negative behavior while she was growing up, so therefore, she accepts it (Cucchiara). Whether girls experience a bad father-daughter relationship or just do not have a father that they know, girls without a father involved in their life are 53% more likely to marry as teenagers compared to girls who grow up with their fathers involved in their life (Dad’s World). From a girl’s prospective, teenage marriage is more than likely an attempt at filling a gap in their life where they actually need a father. On the other hand, girls with active dads are less likely to be involved in abusive relationships in the future (Mack). Overall, they also tend to be more successful in relationships than girls who grow up without an active father (Venish). Dr. Meg Meeker, author of Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, says, “If [a girl] learns to like her dad, and she can trust him, she’ll have a much easier time trusting her husband” (Meeker). Trust is the key factor that causes a change in the ability of a girl with a father to have a successful relationship and the inability of a girl without a father to have a successful relationship.

            The success rates, especially educational success, of girls who grow up without fathers differ from success rates of girls who grow up with fathers. When a girl’s father does not have an active role in her life, her sense of what she is able to accomplish in life is decreased (Meeker). Fathers should be a reliable source of support in life. According to a survey on child health, the National Center for Health Statistics, in Washington D.C., found that “Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of poor educational performance” (Venish). Unfortunately, the issue of being fatherless or growing up without an active father not only influences a girl’s life at home, but it also influences her educational success. Only 35% of children in homes that lack a father reported to getting mostly A’s through high school compared to 50% of children in homes with fathers who reported getting mostly A’s through high school (Dad’s World). This proves that fathers who are involved on a personal level with their daughter’s schooling increase the likelihood of their daughter’s achievement and success (Dad’s World). It’s obvious that girls with active fathers are more successful in school. Girls with active dads also attend college after high school more often than fatherless girls (Gurian). In addition to a college education, girls with active dads are more likely to attain careers of their own (Gurian). Not only do girls with active fathers have a better educational success rate than girls who grow up without fathers, but they also tend to be more successful in having their own career because a father’s support encourages a career success in young women (Father Involvement).

            Self-esteem is the result of how people perceive themselves (Franklin). According to Dr. Meg Meeker, “The number one influence on a girl’s self-esteem is affection from her dad” (Meeker). Girls that lack the support or attention of a father have a low level of self-esteem that sinks lower and lower with every negative encounter (Meeker). Low self-esteem tends to lead to seeking attention from other males to try to fill a hole in life. On the other hand, daughters who feel close and connected to their fathers have fewer instances of low self-esteem (Fathers and Daughters). As a result of higher levels of self-esteem, girls with active fathers are less likely to flaunt themselves to get attention from other men (Fathers and Daughters). Since they feel close to their father, they don’t feel the need for a greater amount of attention from other males.

Outline for Essay 2

Introduction:
 -A father is the most important male in a girl's life
 -Girls with fathers differ from girls with fathers
Thesis:
 Girls who grew up without a father in their life will differ when compared to girls who grew up with a father in their life in their relationships, their success, and their levels of self-esteem.
Body Paragraph 1: Relationships
 -A fathers interactions with his daughter set her up for how she will relate to toher men and also develop an idea of what she will expect form other relationships (Meeker). (topic sentence)
 -Girls who grew up with their fathers:
        -their relationships with other males
        -more likely to be in unhealthy relationships
-Girls who grew up with their fathers:
         -their relationships with other males
         -more likely to be in healthy relationships
Body Paragraph 2: Success
-Girls who grew up without a father:
      -success in school is lower
      -success in a career/profession
-Girls who grew up with a father:
      -success in school is greater
      -success in career/profession
Body Paragraph 3: Self-esteem
 -Girls who grew up without a father:
       -levels of self-esteem
-Girls who grew up with a father:
      -levels of self-esteem
Conclusion