how does a lack of a father figure affect women?

Question

i'm curious 'cause my gf acts strange most of the time

Answer 1

This is a generalization.... but difficulty trusting men, difficulties with attachment, insecurities, fears of rejection, looking for other males to take on role, etc. Research indicates that girls that grow up without a father are more likely to engage in sex earlier as well as have some behavioral problems.
Degrees of Absenteeism of Fathers

Female observation and perception is dependent upon whether they lost their father to divorce, abandonment or death, and at what age. How and why a father is absent will have an impact on the emotional and material outcome for the child (Grimm-Wassil, 1994, p. 5). The different answers help explain why some females have abandonment issues, depict men a certain way, have difficulties determining their self worth or consequently become sexually promiscuous.
Excerpt from:
The effects absent fathers have on female development and college attendance
College Student Journal, Dec, 2001 by Franklin B. Krohn, Zoe Bogan

Girls who have little contact with their fathers, especially during adolescence had great difficulties forming lasting relationships with men. Sadly these females either shy away from males altogether or become sexually aggressive. Girls with involved fathers learn how to interact with males by using the father-daughter relationship as a model. They not only have a concerned male to converse with but also a feeling of acceptance, knowing they are loved by at least one male. Females without father figures often become desperate for male attention (Grimm-Wassil, 1994).

Answer 2

lack of father figure will be in lack of security, protection.
in long term, this individual may not trust men.

There are good and bad sides. Perhaps, she will be more mature in one way, but the bad side is subconsciously she may think all men are like her father... do not want to take responsibility.

Of course, there are exceptions. But that is a general and common behavior you may see a kid growing up without father figure.

Answer 3

Some women tend to look more harder for love in a man. I know you heard some women may be more sexually active from not having a male role model in her life such as her father. Me, I never had a father I acted opposite from that! But, it can effect both women and men. She may feel more in need of affection and love from missing the absence of her dad.

Answer 4

Pretty much as the same as men. It much depends of the personality stage that is being developed. It is much true that the first six years are very determining of the rest of a personality developed, but the Father is always the "Source of Strength", let's say in layman's terms. Then the sex difference is that a girl will tend to search for a couple with her father's features 9personality, physical or a combination of both) while a boy will tend to maximize his father's good features and wrestle with his shortcomings!
Big hugs! ;-)

Answer 5

YES! It does. A lot. For a lot of women who grew up with no father figure - they will try to make the other men in their life fit that role, or they will just be with men who remind them of their father than left them that causes them to be in abusive relationships. A lot of women also have troubles connecting and trusting men.

Answer 6

Some women with that background become promiscuous. Others just really need a man to feel safe. Others turn against men. Some turn out pretty normal.