I think people are over-emphasising the father thing. It ain't just men who do this. All people become resistent to changing their ideas as they get older. Probably for the same reason that they find it harder to learn new things. Physically, their brains are set to one way of thinking and it's hard to divert from that. So if they grow up with an open mind, then they'll have one when they're older.
My mum has some... things... she doesnt like about me, and she's not gonna change that any time soon. You just have to live with it. I know that she's still got all these amazing good things and that she's still the loving mother I've always had. She's just a bit stubborn and closed minded.
All the father figures in my life have different hang ups and opinions that I find distasteful, but I still enjoy myself in their company regardless of that.