The father spanking his 15 year-old over the knee with a paddle ... on top of a 1-month suspension of privileges sounds over the top in general.

The young woman's response concerns me because I wonder whether she felt violated, sexually, as well? You didn't mention it, but her father disrespected boundaries generally accorded a woman by a man by placing his 15 year-old daughter over his knee. I believe that he is off base in this manner, as well.

A father turning his 15 year old daughter over his knee and spanking her is sexual abuse, bordering on S&M behavior and is probably prosecutable in most states if she is not afraid to report it. Several questions came to my mind that would further support my suspicions that this is perverted behavior - (1) What was she wearing? Did he expose her underwear or bare flesh? (2) Where on earth was her mother and why didn't she intervene? (3) How did he just happen to have a wooden paddle close at hand? Perhaps this is a routine activity for this family - no doubt for the gratification of this seriously disturbed man. (4) Are there other female children in the home who are also subjected to this kind of abuse? I feel very sorry for this poor girl and hope she will get help from a responsible adult or the authorities. I doubt the spanking was very painful, but the humiliation and shame of being sexually abused by her father will be with her forever. You should have taken a much firmer stand and I hope you will follow up with better advice. In fact, if you know how to reach her, I hope you will alert the authorities yourself. I got the idea that she was upset and angry, but didn't think she fully understood how totally inappropriate it was, which means it is not new behavior. She needs to know what her options are for a safe place to live.

I agree completely. A 15 yr old girl is sexually mature. The father is aware of this, no doubt.I agree that your answer did not address the very real problem she faces. This is not "discipline". The man sounds very controlling..."grounding" for a month because the teen was one hour late? There is a very real problem here, and this young lady needs to seek help.