Definitely a difference between asking for his permission and asking for his blessing... I can totally understand why he felt that way. I know it seems respectful but the only PERMISSION you should ask for is the woman you want to marry.

Lol

Technically he's right, though being pedantic and overly technical. Asking for his daughters hand is, originally, something you do before you discuss price.

If your plan was/is to marry her regardless of what he says why ask in the first place? Brownie points? It seems more of a thing for suck ups rather than sexist pigs. If she needed their opinion on who to marry so badly I'm sure she'd just have an arranged marriage.

I consider myself a feminist and I'm pretty progressive, but I would find it sweet if my boyfriend asked permission. To me it's no different than saying "bless you" when I sneeze, even though I'm not religious. Some traditions are just nice. I suppose it comes down to how the gf in question feels about it - if she is touched by the gesture that's all that matters.

I understand the father's argument (after all, the tradition DOES come from the fact that in the past women had literally no say on whether they wanted to marry or not, it was usually a contract between their father and the potential groom), but I'm having a feeling that he is using it as an excuse to be nasty to you.

Great dad! I'm on his side.

I would do exactly the same thing if I were her dad. I also would never marry someone who asked for my father's permission OR blessing.

I agree with the dad actually... Why would you need permission to marry a girl ? It does not make any sense nowadays. I get that it´s just a tradition, but maybe some traditions don't deserve to be kept alive... Might be because nobody does that where I'm from, so I really don't see the point. And what if you're a lesbian couple ? Are you supposed to ask for permission twice ?

I like this dad already. :) He seems to be more with the times than what I'm assuming is a younger OP.