Wonder if fathers' behavior towards their daughters changes if they don't have sons, too. My dad's always been the one encouraging me to be daring - dumping me in the deep end of the pool (only after he knew I could swim), cheering me on as I climbed tall slippery rocks while we were out hiking, that sort of thing. Mom was always the one sitting on the sidelines closing her eyes until we were done. But then, I've always thought I was raised more like a boy than a girl.
Oddly, now I'm cautious to the point of cowardice, especially with Robbie.