Despite the fact that I am only 24 years old, I have often debated about whether or not I want to have kids. There are plenty of arguments both for and against. However, I may have just discovered one thing that will ensure I never have a daughter.

Scott Mackintosh, a Utah dad of 7 kids, discovered his feminine side on August 27, 2013 – a day he will never forget. Mr. Mackintosh describes himself as an old-fashioned parent who looks and speaks like a redneck, but who also deeply loves his kids. He loves his daughter Myley so much, in fact, that one day he decided to walk a mile in her….shorts. Short-shorts to be exact.

According to Scott, the whole incident began when his daughter refused to change her shorts (which both he and his wife believed were too short) in order to go to a restaurant and then to mini-golf: “Instead of turning her response and disrespectful attitude into a major battle, I decided to make a “small” statement on how her short-shorts maybe aren’t as “cute” as she thinks,” stated Mackintosh on his wife’s blog. So, Scott when to his room, grabbed a pair of old jeans, and hacked them down into short-shorts. He completed the ensemble with a shirt which read “World’s Best Dad”.

Once properly attired, Scott and his family spent a night out on the town as they had planned. During the ordeal, Scott said that his daughter attempted to act as if the situation wasn’t bothering her. However, by the time the family stopped for ice cream (after dinner and mini-golf), Myley had decided that she had had enough and stayed in the car.

Since the video went viral, Scott Mackintosh said that the message was twisted: “There was no “Dad I get it” or “Dad you’re the best…. thanks for that awesome lesson.” I don’t think my object lesson of “modest is hottest” made the statement I had intended.” However, Scott says that whether or not the lesson worked, he knows that his daughter will now forever understand how much he loves her….

Or will she? What message does this really send to Myley and the rest of Scott Mackintosh’s children. How does public shaming his daughter teach her that short-shorts are bad, and how does it prove that he loves her? According to Myley’s Facebook page, she is 19 years old. Isn’t time for dad to let up a little and let his daughter make her own decisions in life? Also, what happened to father’s raising their daughters to bring strong individuals not beholden to traditional masculine, sexist standards? Has feminism flown out the window?

Granted, who wouldn’t want their daughter to stop wearing short-shorts when she looks like this:

(image)

Perhaps the most disturbing event of all is that when Scott Mackintosh initially approached his children wearing his short-shorts, they didn’t even notice. Instead, they were too busy staring at their cell phones to realize what a fool their dad was being. How does that happen? One knows the situation between kids and their phones is severe whenever they do not seize the opportunity to ridicule and lambaste their father forever for his actions. Or at least take more pictures or videos. Damn, kids. Step up your game.

Image via Becky Mackintosh’s Blog