Internationally renowned psychologist Dr. Ishita Mukherjee’s response
Thank you for writing to us! Parents play an important role in shaping the personality of the child. It’s important that you and your husband realize that you may both be partially responsible for your daughter’s choices so that she can find comfort in being around her female peer group. Parents should avoid creating prejudice towards the particular gender in the mind of their children as the presence of opposite sex cannot be eliminated. Rather, parents should educate their children about good touch bad touch, make their children aware of the coexistence of different genders just like people from different geographical and socio-economic backgrounds. We should help them understand the existence of good and bad and how to appreciate the good and avoid the bad in the people around them. Well, it’s never too late to improve in life. Both you and your husband may secretly start sharing positive attitudes towards male members of the family and social groups. You can start with how your husband has added value to your life. How did your brothers (if you have any) or your father or uncle or teacher or school friends value your life. Similarly, your husband can also talk about the responsibilities carried by good men or the qualities that define a gentleman. This way, you will find that if your daughter has developed any prejudices or insecurities towards her male counterparts, she will gradually weaken, and she will find the comfort and confidence to hang out with them. However, please don’t put too much pressure on him to change and let him gain your trust naturally.
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