Re: Why are parents OVERprotective?

Well, I do think this has some grounds in safety, at least if you look back thousands of years. I dont mean though, that this sexual-overprotection is for the same reason. That is modern day social protectionism of children and especially daughters, which is more of a cultural problem than it is a part of evolution.

The evolutionary side of things would be to watch out for your family, especially one's children. I think this naturally makes sense as to how it could evolve to favor over-protection, yes?

Whereas, for the stereotypical over-protected father, with each a fearful and paranoid mother, and aggressive and angry father, I think you can thank modern culture for much of this. This construct would generally limit the girl's freedom across the board.

What you're talking about is that limited freedoms, and fear, when it comes to dating, love, sex, etc. This is yet another set above from the origin. It involves great disillusion, but since it is prevalent at all corners of society, nobody can tell that they are disillusioned. I don't think I need to bother to educated you on the reasons why they shouldn't be so fearful, you already know.

Now this thing about Mr. Right, and why parents seem to favor over-protection... I think it is a fantasy stems from this Utopian view of purity, innocence, and virginity, which is, as LGL keeps pointing out, Victorian, and also I feel strongly influenced by religious morality. You could say they might do this because they have fewer children than they used to, but that would require that they didn't also do this in the past, which I think they did.

I think parents do a grand disservice to their children, of either gender, when they treat them this way. The child ages, but throughout childhood isn't given a healthy level of responsibility, isn't trusted with anything hazardous, or dangerous, and as a result reaches adulthood less capable, and confident.