Independent Women Shouldn’t Buy Into The Stereotype That They’re Alone In Life

Originally published at lmt-lss.com on December 6, 2015.

She’s not the damsel in distress that needs saving.

An independent woman stands out. She’s real and confident and finds happiness within. She’s also strong and able to take care of herself, both emotionally and physically.

She knows how to overcome challenges and is clear about what she wants in life. She prefers to do things her way. She’s not afraid to have an opinion and doesn’t shy away from expressing her views. And she can’t be pressurized into thinking a certain way, especially when it goes against her ethics.

She doesn’t rely on anyone to pay her bills and decides how she wants to spend her salary and with whom to spend her time. She is self-sufficient and insists on doing everything on her own.

Despite possessing these envious qualities, an independent woman is often mistakenly perceived as lonely or isolated and concealing the fact that she needs someone in her life — someone whom she can depend on.

But, of course, that’s not true. It’s just a toxic stereotype. An independent woman doesn’t feel alone or need anyone any more than the regular person does. It’s nothing to do with being female and independent.

People also like to think that an independent woman is just pretending to be independent. Why does she fall in love then, they ask naively?

The fact is, independence has nothing to do with falling in love. Their independence signifies that they don’t need anyone to help them live. In the old days, women would often be dependent on the husbands for survival. This is not true anymore.

Yes, an independent woman may sometimes get pressured into believing that she is alone and lonely. This can happen when she sees all her friends getting married or entering committed relationships while she only works on building a career.

No matter how challenging these times are, an independent woman should stay strong. She needs to remember that she’s brave and ambitious, and doesn’t have to give into this stereotype that she secretly needs to have someone in her. Like any other stereotype, it doesn’t represent the truth.