Independence Given To Women

This is the 21st century. It is a scary world out there. But does that mean we're in danger ALL the time? The technology has given us all forms of security.
Lost? Google Maps. Need help? Emergency numbers.
Yet, inspite of all this, some people fail to have faith in both technology as well as people. Especially those who have daughters.
A friend of mine, who is in 8th grade (which means she is 14) lives with a family of four. Me, and three other friends decided to hang out at a mall on a short notice. But when we asked her if she wanted to tag along, she denied the offer herself. Why? Because she knew her father will not allow her to go out. She thought it would be totally pointless to even ask him.
Does this show the father had so much love for his daughter that he didn't want her to be out of his sight?
Does this show he had no faith in his daughter's friends?
Does this show that he was scared that no adult would be accompanying her?
OR,
He was afraid to let his daughter go out because she was a girl?
I think the last one is more legit.
But the question is, why?
Weren't there FOUR other girls to accompany her?
There are tons of overprotective parents out there. They freak out even if their child  has come home a half an hour late.
Of course, every parent has a different parenting method. But isn't there a hint of strictness shown?
“ She's a girl. She can't go out on her own”
- This is the mentality of thousands of people out there.
Well, why can't a girl go out too? Aren't they as strong as a guy?
Her father didn't let her go even when my father personally contacted him and told him that a driver is going to leave us at the mall and pick up too.
Would he allow his son to go? I think, yes.
Inndependence of a girl is blocked a lot of times.
Not that her friends were going to hurt her in some way, were they? She had a phone, and enough money if anything went wrong. But what could possibly go wrong while going to a mall with your friends, who are the people you trust the most?
Independence should be given to girls. They are no longer weak. They are equally as strong, both physically and mentally, as men.