Majed Jarrar

No one disputes that parents must have authority over their children. All nations have laws for parental and/or guardianship authority, otherwise societies wouldn't function.

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In Islam, both boys and girls are under guardianship of their parents, or someone else, with details on which parent/guardian has more right towards whom for which age and to what extend.

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Generally speaking, parents have full guardianship rights by default on children since birth until the age of 7 (e.g. boys or girls can't do any business transactions without parent/guardian's approval, parents/guardians may be deemed liable for any public damages kids may do, or torts, etc).
After seven until puberty, it is a partial guardianship (e.g. financial independence or more freedoms are given as parents/guardians deem fit, boys and girls get to choose which parent to reside with if parents have shared custody and equally fit to take care of them, etc), and the kids become partially liable legally (e.g. can be sentenced for negligence, or disciplined - but not punished - for some crimes)

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After puberty, boys and girls are legally independent.

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Women remain dependent on a male guardian with two issues for her entire life: the companionship of a male guardian in travel, and his consent for marriage. The order of precedence in guardianship is the son, the father, the brother, then the closest paternal male relative.

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I had to make that rather long introduction to point out that it's not guardianship of girls over marriage and travel is not an issue of parental authority, but rather the best male guardian available. the mother never has a sole authority over the daughter with regards to marriage and travels. The father can be skipped (by an order of a judge) as guardian - whilst alive, for a number of reasons including, if they are not acting in the best interest of the woman.
The Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - said: "it is not permissible, for any woman, who believes in God and the Hereafter, to travel a night without a male guardian"
He also said: "Any woman, who marries without the consent of her male guardian, then her marriage is invalid; her marriage is invalid; her marriage is invalid."
The believing men and women would rush to obey the command of God and His Messenger without finding something in their chests against it. God said: "But no, by thy Lord, they will not believe until they make you, [O Prophet], judge over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission." [4:65]

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The wisdom behind male guardianship for women in travel, and that behind the requirement of consent of male guardianship in marriage in Islam are each a vast topic that you could read more about on your own, or ask and I'd be happy to answer as much as I can or refer you to some resources.

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Ask.fm is telling me I'm out of space here, so I hope this answers your question.

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This fatwa is about a married couple pleasing each other over the phone.

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Pleasing oneself sexually is unanimously prohibited. God said in describing one of the attributes of the believers who are promised paradise: "And they who are protective to their private parts, except towards their spouses and whom they possess, then they are not to blame, and whosoever seeks beyond that then these are the transgressors."

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The exception would be for the unmarried youth who has no restraint, and would otherwise fall into Zina. Since fornication is a major sin and masturbation is a minor one, if one had no third choice then they may do the lesser evil, and may the Almighty forgive them. For those, my advice is to seek marriage seriously. The prophet said: "God has a duty upon Himself to fulfill the needs of three [...] and a person seeking marriage for the purpose of chastity."

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