Asking for fathers permission for marriage

Hi guys,

I have been with my partner for two years now, and I love her so much that I have finally decided to ask her to marry me. One question though, her father looks down on me as I don’t earn as much as her and due to not spending much time around him, knows very little about me or my relationship with his daughter.
With this in mind, I was wondering should I ask for his “approval” or “permission”? I have already attempted to “have a quiet word” so I could speak to him about it, but he has been non-responsive to these requests to talk together.
Every time I am around him, I feel that…while he talks to me with as much respect as anyone talks to someone they know…he has no respect for me.
Every other member of her family praise me. I am close with her best friend and this lady threw her arms around me when I told her my plans…I very much doubt this would be her dads reaction.
With the planned proposal date close (this coming Friday) and knowing that she would like me to have asked before I ask her, I would like your thoughts on the matter.
Did you ask the parents? Or are you a married lady who would like to contribute her thoughts on the matter?