Salaam sister Shannonx,
I view it this way: I myself a dad having 3 growing up and lovely daughters and am always looking forward the best for them. You name it, everything that I think of is for the best for them. Qur'anic knowledge, education, food, transportation, house, you may just name it.
I would say the same goes to your dad. He would never touch you or hurt you I believe. But somehow he has a misconception about islam, the beauty of islam and how islam has put the level of women. The only think it is true that wives are always expected to submit themselves to husbands, entitle for heritage, equally the same in the sight of Allah and of course standing with the same height with men. Being different in gender which makes male and female different socially. Although both of them might disagree about certain things. After all we all the slaves of Allah. Slaves are always expected to OBEY the master at all time.
By wearing hijab women already treat themselves like a diamond. A diamond should always be kept secret and guarded. Otherwise it will be stolen and people around will develop sense of envy. Every one would eargerly try to at least glimpse at that beautiful expensive diamond. Opposite to man his auraat is at no value at all. If a man were to expose his auraat, it will look very ugly. I bet no one would like to watch man body (But I don't know for those homosexual or body builder, anyway these are small group of people)Hence man is always expected to dress up modestly with the best attire as and like a man. Opposite to women, the more she expose her auraat, the more beatiful she would be and hence, since the auraat of women is a diamond, it has to be guarded. Once the diamond is exposed the consequence is already known.
Be patient, explain to your dad nicely, perhaps asking your dad to debate his misunderstanding with your local imaam. You may have a mosque around your place. You could use this as a pretext to compare. If it not good just abandon it and accept what is good. For us we might not be able to do so as we are very much lacking in knowledge and wisdom. Allah knows best and His knowledge has no borders. He guides whom ever He wants.
Wassalaam