GWEN WOODS,
Sir, - While I would describe myself as a liberal and feminist (in the sense that both sexes should be treated as equals) in many ways I agreed with John Waters's column of June 3rd. Little girls learn to relate to and trust loving fathers and this becomes the foundation of their relationships in later years with men. Boys seem to have to detach from their mothers at age 11 no matter what the closeness is and model themselves on their fathers. It seems to be the natural law of the jungle of life. As Jesus said to his mother, "I have to be about my father's business".
From my experience and from my observations of life has come a belief that fathers are very important and should not be written out of parenting no matter how independent women become. - Yours, etc.,
GWEN WOODS,
Herbert Park,
Dublin 4.