So...does an absent/jerk of a dad make a girl promiscuous?

I get what you are saying. I think it can be a factor, but its not the rule. I think a girls promiscuity is directly tied to her sense of self worth and self confidence. A father figure can go a long way in instilling both in a girl, but so can the mother or any other authority figure in her life. I think you just need to be very aware of the role models in her life and ensure that she feels good about who she is. She also has to understand that her father is who he is and it has nothing to do with who she is.