A father recently shared on Reddit, in a controversial but powerful gesture, that he had shaved his 16-year-old daughter’s head because she had been tormenting a fellow classmate who was receiving cancer treatment. The father acted quickly after the incident, publishing the story in a since-deleted post, and the daughter ended up removing the girl’s wig.

Context: Past Disagreements and Inappropriate Conduct
The father admitted that there had previously been tension between the two girls, mostly because of the daughter’s relationship with the other girl’s ex-boyfriend. The father made it clear that any past hostilities do not justify his daughter’s cruel behaviour.

“Not how I’ve raised my daughter to treat people, and it truly disgusted me to hear how she acted from her deputy principal,” he wrote in his post.

Daughter’s Response from Parents and Lack of Remorse
Disturbingly, the daughter justified her bullying behaviour and displayed no regret for her acts. The father gave his daughter two options for punishment in response to her belligerent attitude. She had two options: give up all of her electronics or shave her head and go to school without a wig until her hair grew back. She chose the second option.

A contentious choice causes disagreement
Reactions to the father’s decision were divided; the mother of the daughter strongly objected to what she saw as an extreme step. The father maintains his composure in the face of criticism, highlighting his worries about his daughter’s acute lack of empathy.

“I came up with the punishment because I thought my daughter had an extreme lack of empathy for the girl she bullied,” said the father. “I hoped that her going to school bald and walking a mile in the other girl’s shoes would teach her a lesson.”

Firm Belief

The father is unflinching in the face of criticism and opposing views, stating that his main objective is to teach his daughter empathy. The event is a sobering reminder of the difficulties parents encounter when trying to deal with bullying behaviour and the various methods used to teach important life skills. What do you think of this non-traditional method of training? Post your thoughts in the space provided below.