Today’s women all strive to be one thing: independent. The times of relying on men to bring home an income and to “wear the pants” in the relationship are over. Every day women are striving to be independent, and are taking control of their lives. These independent women are taking over and leaving their mark on the world: inspiring younger generations, speaking out against misogynists and making America a better place for all women. However, are these women really independent? Sure they don’t necessarily need a man in their life to be happy or successful, but they are never left to stand alone. The strongest and most independent women aren’t really independent at all. The true independent women of modern-day have reliable and powerful friends, backing them up every step of the way. The strongest women are both strangely independent and dependent, all at the same time.
The most popular “independent” women of modern day have a sturdy support system of friends around them, to keep them inspired, and to push them to be their best. We all strive to be the incredible and independent women that we see on our televisions and silver screens because they don’t need anyone to be successful. However, in the real world, the strongest women can be both independent and rely on their own strength, but also need to rely on a group of other independent people to lean on in both good times and bad.
Our independent role models all had people that lifted them up and made them the independent women we know and love today. Eleanor Roosevelt, arguably one of the strongest and most independent women to ever live, had Amelia Earhart and Lorena Hickok at her side every step of the way. Billie Jean King, the leader in the movement for women’s sports, had the other women in the Women’s Tennis Association backing and supporting her.
Beyonce, who literally wrote the song on independent women had the other members of Destiny’s Child, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland, to lean on and help her become who she is today. Even our future president, Oprah Winfrey, had her close friends Gayle King, Ellen DeGeneres, Maria Shriver, and Maya Angelou, at her side supporting her and making her stronger. Many of the world’s most independent and powerful women have a tribe of other strong and independent women supporting them every step of the way.
Building a network of mature, strong, confident, and independent women to help make you an incredible person is one of the best things you can do for yourself. If you are an independent woman, which you are all capable of being, then you shouldn’t be afraid to lean on others once in a while. You should rely on your group of friends to make you a true “independent woman,” and you should also let others rely on you for the same. I know that if I didn’t have my strong group of incredible friends to help lift me up and support me in all that I do, I would not be the capable and independent person I am today. I love and cherish those girls, and I believe that everyone deserves a great group of people that stand at their side, no matter what, because that is one of life’s greatest things. So don’t be afraid to rely on others once and a while. You are a strong and independent woman, and you should have your friends to support you, and remind you of that fact every day. Women are not meant to be exclusively independent. The most incredible women in the world are also interdependent on those who lift them up, and that is what makes them truly ‘independent,’ because “behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.”