The Independent Woman Trope, Explained

[@Saeiyu]

I think Cher said it best, “ I don’t need a man. They are like desserts. I like dessert, but I don’t always need to eat dessert “

[@Mo1683]

So in other word's, ya' forever alone & projectin'.🤷🏾‍♂️

[@carlissiawilkins4432]

@@Mo1683 nope, we're forever alone and still happy😘

[@Saeiyu]

@@Mo1683 not all the time. Sometimes women don't want to commit, doesn't mean they can't find a partner or want one at all or around all the time.

[@A-G-A-G]

Or that time when her mother told he she needed to find a rich man and marry him she replied “Mom, I AM a rich man!”

[@alrune8]

@@carlissiawilkins4432 Wait for your gray days to say this. Otherwise, that's wishful thinking.

[@sp691]

I like independent women, I only dislike the trope when it's used to cater to male fantasies so he can "tame" her or whatever. That being said, you can still have a partner and generally be independent. But people hate it when women don't end up with love interests which is ridiculous.

[@krankarvolund7771]

@Manophere. com You can't said he's in the freezer, when he was the main protagonist for several seasons, and so was developped ^^'

[@amandak.5967]

I agree but you're thinking off "Taming of the Shrew," aren't you? :) The more modern take movie set in highschool does the "independent woman" much better.

[@tacofacefart]

hahahahahahahahaha. everything is sexist.

[@krankarvolund7771]

@@amandak.5967 I don't think t's hard for a XXIst century writer to do better in woman's image than a XVIth century writer :p

[@amandak.5967]

@@krankarvolund7771 lol true. gotta love the new and improved remakes :)

[@YonekuniKyuhyun]

Legally Blonde is truly a thesis on independent women. She overcame hardship, even with her privilege, and found a man who respected her and let her be herself. Ellen Woods is a role model for anyone.

[@davy209]

What I like about Elle Woods as a character is despite of her own privileges. She’s really a caring person at heart and knows right from wrong. She’s going to use both her privileges and her position to really help people who don’t have those things. Helping others in need is what makes a strong person, man or woman in my opinion.

[@evanhardy7706]

You should have mentioned that the independent black woman is a completely different trope that expects black women to take on all the hard ships of the world and still be nurturing

[@sirenenoire4091]

They have that sorta in the angry black woman trope. I hate that trope.

[@NewBlueTrue]

The Take already talked about the trope you’re mentioning

[@kefilwesebolai1007]

They did this video before it’s called Strong Black Woman

[@JC-yy8iv]

They usually give tropes involving Black women their own video, and have it written and narrated by Black women (Edited for autocorrect lol)

[@realkr8324]

They already did it but I get what you are saying most Black women are involunteering independent women.

[@senpaijecho]

that's why i hate when they say miranda was the "villain" in the devil wears prada, when the real one was andy's dumb boyfriend who couldn't stand seeing his gf worry about her job

[@pootoobaby738]

@violet baudelaire I'd say yes but she did love her job. She was loving the opportunities presented to her and becoming good at it. The only thing she wasn't fond of was how he was judging her for being too into fashion and the way her boss treated people. He was being a pretentious prick about clothes when he knew it was Andy building a lucrative career without having to rely on him. It's good she left Miranda to become truly independent in her career, but staying with him was a step backwards. He obviously didn't truly understand her like he claimed if he couldn't wrap his brain around her being driven to do her best in whatever came her way.

[@krankarvolund7771]

@violet baudelaire If he truly loved her, he would helped her to not mentally implode, no? ^^'

[@mtblaho]

Pootoo Baby but she presented it to him as though she hated it. Even when she started to enjoy it she still acted like it was something she had to do instead of wanting to do. He even called her on that when he said have some integrity about it. But she didn’t want to own up to the fact that she was starting to enjoy the perks and the fashion. So I can’t really blame him when she didn’t tell him she liked her job.

[@mujerforalibre]

god, I f*cking hated him. Andy's bf was awful

[@neigeepierrot4694]

I know why could he not just be happy for her also Mirandas husband was also pretty bad since it seemed like he did not respect how important her job was to her

[@schrondingersspy9408]

Reese Witherspoon's been in every trope.

[@maggiemcfly5267]

lol

[@The482075]

Huh. Now that she has played every type of woman, she could try her hand at playing male characters. That's probably doable if she takes up voice acting.

[@ihatelife486]

Amazing and beautiful actress.

[@kellymcphaul2793]

Because she’s amazing.

[@tuhimerameraa1]

@akshay satish the quirky curry Boi

[@loudpacifist]

I'm really looking forward to an episode on male/female friendships.

[@TCt83067695]

Subbed so I get notified when they post it😊

[@kpencil859]

The half of it on Netflix did it better.

[@chrissy6693]

I hope they include the friendships in A Cinderella Story and Ever After. I loved that they included it.

[@damisola6080]

Watch the friends episode on Phoebe and Joey's relationship

[@konraddygudaj257]

"Personally, I'd rather grow old alone than in the company of anyone I've met so far. I don't experience myself as lonely, incomplete, or unfulfilled, but I don't talk about that much. It seems to piss people off--especially men." Kinsey Millhone

[@saurabhsingh3542]

It taken time to find a suitable mate

[@trinaq]

Precisely, that's how me and many of my peers feel currently. While relationships are rewarding, independence and the power of self reliance can ALSO be a fulfilling lifestyle! 🌟💜

[@kathryngeeslin9509]

Exactly!

[@konraddygudaj257]

@@trinaq I think so

[@konraddygudaj257]

@@kathryngeeslin9509 thank you

[@Cristallery]

Just because we CAN do things alone doesn’t mean we HAVE TO.

[@xzxzojkeymtzxzx7712]

yes we don't NEED someone, but we can WANT someone to be there for us so we can help each other up when we fall

[@davy209]

Like Neyo’s song “Miss Independent” she don’t need a man but still want a man to complete her. She got the option where she don’t need to settle for less because she got her own thing!

[@hbsupreme1499]

Your not geting married​@@xzxzojkeymtzxzx7712

[@dominicconner800]

I love how Beyonce is the definitive maker of independent woman songs like sis has a catalogue

[@KitKatLag]

The independent woman does not need nor depend on a man, but she can live life with a man if she so chooses and still enjoy happiness, success, and fulfillment. Independent women can still experience love with children and marriage, but compared to conventional women, they don’t depend solely on men for their livelihood and often have the freedom to pursue a career, higher education, love, raising a family, or all of the above. Overall, independent women have the right to make their own choices and not have their lives be dictated by men and conventional societal standards.

[@sunshine_pond7951]

This ⬆️ 👏👏👏

[@The482075]

KitKatLag Your description of an independent woman sounds like most women I know.

[@fairyonice9504]

So many men don’t seem to get this distinction between “need” and “want”. You can want a man (or romantic partner) w/o necessarily needing one to provide for you.

[@Awlllo]

what is a “conventional” woman....?

[@ufuoma419]

They want to eat there cake and eat it too...

[@ninashewchuk8976]

Could you do a video analyzing the "opposites attract relationship" trope in a future video perhaps? The idea that we're attracted to our polar opposites has always been so romanticized, and that romanticization unfortunately sometimes allows people to excuse some really terrible (sometimes even abusive) behaviour from their partners. I dunno whether there's enough to make a whole video about the trope, but it might be something to consider.

[@jhaenaevieve305]

Opposites distract not attract because very rarely do they have enough common ground for anything substantial to be built

[@monabohamad2242]

@@jhaenaevieve305 nah it's called opposites attract NOT opposites distract they're probably romanticized so much cuz maybe they're often about a billion times more interesting than a couple who aren't a opposites attract couples

[@ninashewchuk8976]

@@jhaenaevieve305 That's the point, though. In real life opposites might intrigue each other at most, but in reality relationships between opposite personalities tend not to work out. Popular media tells us otherwise, though. Think about how many times we've seen "bad boy/good girl" relationships play out on TV or in film as these epic love stories.

[@cherusiderea1330]

@@ninashewchuk8976 You do realize that this channel is about TV tropes?

[@ninashewchuk8976]

@@cherusiderea1330 You do realize that relationship tropes are part of film/TV?

[@Julia-hj7nn]

people forget how recent the ability for women to own their own things actually is... we weren't even allowed to have our own credit cards until the 80s

[@ozen3348]

For real? Arab women have been owning money for 1400 years.

[@blankxblankx8516]

@@ozen3348 not money. Credit cards. Anyone can have physical cash

[@ozen3348]

@@blankxblankx8516 before Islam, Arab women didn't have agency over their own money and didn't inherit. Islam enforced that.

[@LisySubs]

In Brazil, until the 2010s, a minor girl who had been raped was obliged to marry this man legally. And the worst: there are still a lot of speeches that say that women already have all their rights guaranteed and do not need anything else.

[@toomuchinformation]

@@LisySubs It's worse than that; there are those who advocate removing some of women's rights, like the right to vote.

[@nennaaco4150]

Im still in my feelings about Disney finally giving us a black princess and making her a frog the whole movie

[@kellymcphaul2793]

That is a huge deal. We’ll see what happens next.

[@carennrodrigues7631]

So missed opportunity

[@seignee]

"im almost there" inspired me so much, that song invoked INDEPENDENCE in my young mind i swear

[@ngumlovered7566]

Lmao me too 😂

[@doctorwholover1012]

Right? Not to mention brother bear, and the emperors new groove, for some reason, Disney can only animate POC as leads if they're POC for as little screentime as possible 🙄

[@safirak7988]

Andy from Devil Wears Prada didn't leave fashion world because of her stupid, unsupportive boyfriend, she left because it clashed with her morals and her authentic self. Do you see her running back to him at the end of the movie? Hell to the no!

[@MissCaraMint]

Exactly. She got an interview with the publication she always dreamed of writing for instead.

[@elatafalando]

Independent woman = a normal female character with her own desires, goals and good development. Man, I wish I could label "independent man" to male characters too.

[@sabsain2399]

THIS

[@iferk23]

I do disagree about the Devil Wears Prada. I never took the ending as a cautionary tale of ambition or as a romantic ending. I took it as Andy learning from Miranda about determination and confidence but channeling that into an ambition that was closer to who she really was. With the last scene ending with Miranda instead of Andy’s boyfriend, it showed who Andy’s most meaningful relationship was with and her boyfriend was really a side character.

[@safirak7988]

Exactly! The movie is basically about her finding herself career-wise and figuring out what kind of person she is. Miranda is the person that enables that while Nate and Andy's friends are unsupportive the whole movie.

[@natiagogichaishvili3556]

Yeap. I also think Andy's finale desition was not because she understood that she needed Nate more then her career, but the fact that she was losing herself and her principles while working with Miranda (stepping over Emily). That was a reason she left, not Nate :)

[@teejay5432]

I wish the ending stuck to the book where she dumped him. I don't know if I'm dreaming but I remember her doing that and ending her car convo with Miranda with a loud expletive

[@dirgniflesuoh7950]

Tessa Jones Exactly! That ending annoyed me because it felt like "it must end with them together" push it into the mold!

[@raxxie]

I always saw it as a message to young career people... you have to pay your dues but it can pay off. Knowing that a certain role can be a stepping stone but staying too long can be as detrimental as leaving too early. She knew when it was time to get out. I know there's more to it, but that was my takeaway

[@anjaneekhosla3847]

As someone who aspires to be an "independent woman" in a gender unequal country, this hits close to home. I'm honestly surprised by how much of my idea of independence is shaped by their portrayal onscreen and amused by how all my favourite movies featured here. Also, while I understand why it's important to make sure that the independent woman has a support system, I also see why rejection of male interest and doing it all alone is seen empowering. In india, for instance, marriages almost always have unequal power dynamics and society continues to make it difficult for women to gain financial autonomy. So, rejecting these structures naturally is a source of empowerment.

[@catsrule1343]

You have it so wrong about Breakfast at Tiffany's. Holly was never an independant career woman (she didn't even have a job) who didn't need anyone. It's actually the opposite. When she first meets Paul she talks about how sad, lonely, and unsatisfied she is. She feels lost and is need of some security. While she did find that security in her relationship with Paul, she never sacrificed her "independant, career woman" values in the process bcuz she never had those values to begin with. She was just a deeply lonely person in need of human connection, and the fact that she found that connection with a man isn't anti-feminist bcuz there's nothing wrong with finding fulfillment in a romantic relationship

[@brookeh4217]

truee

[@marinousky1991]

THIS

[@wellknown1204]

Yes, yes, yes.. I was so confused as well when they show breakfast at tiffany's because holy had _entanglement_ with some rich guy in prison before and during her meeting with paul. So, she was not really independent.. Independent.

[@lexi7749]

Maybe it is because at the end, when he asks her for a relationship she says no at first because she doesn’t want to be owned. She doesn’t want to be domesticated, but realized she wants love and stability. Cat, her cat is a parallel for this.

[@lavendernightmares8793]

She is an escort, so it's not like any of those relationships she has with the rich men are actually romantic though.

[@natyinthehouse]

Andy wasn’t neglecting her boyfriend. She just needed to take a step back and realized what she really wanted. She never wanted fashion to be her life like it was becoming. She wanted to be a journalist. She was losing herself and becoming more like Miranda. And they add depth to a Miranda too! I hope one day Andy realizes her boyfriend was kind of an ass about the whole thing and finds a better man, but that’s the relationship she is in at the end of the movie.

[@safirak7988]

She's not in a relationship with him at the end of the movie though. They meet for a coffee, quite awkwardly talking about their separate lifes in different cities. It's at that point when Andy truly becomes independent and starts her own life at a job she enjoys, after learning what she loves (the energy, feeling accomplished, seeing she can do almost anything) and dislikes (harrowing hours, backstabbing) while working at Runway.

[@natyinthehouse]

SafiraK sorry I forgot that part of the movie. Thank God.

[@Dimadick3]

"I hope one day Andy realizes her boyfriend was kind of an ass about the whole thing and finds a better man" Could be worse. Have you seen the film "Uptown Girls" (2003). Wealthy heiress Molly Gunn (played Brittany Murphy) looses her fortune to an embezzler and has to work for a living. Her love interest throughout the film is singer Neal Wolf (Jesse Spencer), who rejected her after as one-night-stand, is highly critical of Molly and her lifestyle, insists that he prioritizes his career over relationships with women, and does nothing to help her when she is down. At the end of the film, Molly has just started a career as a designer, and the happy ending implies that she is either starting a relationship with Neal or befriending him. I found it disgusting that getting together with a man who has nothing but scorn for you was supposed to be a happy ending.

[@alisonrae]

I wouldn't call Carrie an independent woman lmao Her story was revolving around Mr. Big. And she was a financial disaster, spending money on her shoes. Miranda and Samantha are the ones who are independent on that show.

[@pls-shanice]

Carrie was a mess imo

[@rishabhanand4973]

i mean, jake peralta is also a financial disaster but no one would consider him not independent.

[@unknownpeep1772]

I love Carrie but I agree on your statement

[@toomuchinformation]

@@rishabhanand4973 Men are de facto seen as independent.......whether they are or not.

[@rishabhanand4973]

@@toomuchinformation TRUE

[@alexiaivan7708]

Ever since I saw Legally Blonde, I wanted to become like Elle Woods: stylish and classy, but also successful

[@tuhimerameraa1]

Same!!she's amazing 💖

[@mariamibukia8140]

Who says you cant be independent when you have a partner. Just learn how to love and respect yourself first, then others.

[@sarahkendle7564]

I will always be grateful for growing up in the 90s and early 2000s where I had the Spice Girls, Destiny's Child, Mulan and other pop culture icons to look up to and admire for their fierce independent spirits.

[@sarahkendle7564]

@Ryan Stewart that is a good point 'No Scrubs' was iconic.

[@aaliyaheverett2601]

Do a trope about male friendships. About how there are not a lot of movies portraying men having strong, emotional and vulnerable relationships with other men. It's not celebrated or as normalized as they do women. It's kind of sad.

[@colonyofrats4193]

This is why I adore lord of the rings the male friendships are phenomenal

[@meloderieugif2294]

Watch Sherlock , what love the most about the show is the friendship between the main character .

[@johnyzero2000]

Time Bandits is another good example.

[@antigonarosaura7845]

I agree.

[@AntonWongVideo]

can't wait until April 1st when The Take makes a video on "The 'Trope' Trope" What is it? no idea. but I can't wait!

[@missj794]

@Manophere. com I don't think so, because the trope is meant to have the character only be there to have the other one avenge their death and motivate them in life and also the character does not have much of a back story, if any. Whereas Frank was the main character for the whole series until they fired the actor and Claire was always consistently pushing for more power.

[@manyagoyal3835]

I think Peggy Carter's character explains this trope quite well. In the show Agent Carter, Peggy is always on her own, making her own money, ensuring that she doesn't take anyone's help. But then Jarvis says that it is known that she doesn't need anyone but that doesn't mean she shouldn't take anyone's help. No one can be truly independent, the human civilization grew because we took care of each other. We need each other to survive, to live and to grow.

[@choles523]

When you mentioned that the female lead in Hitchcock's The Birds is narratively punished for her agency, it made me think about the actress, Tippi Hedren, who herself was punished by Hitchcock for refusing his sexual advances demands. He physically and mentally tortured her and threatened that she'd never work in Hollywood again if she refused him.

[@dinamule3073]

Hitchcock was a "1950s" Harvey Weinstein. Disgusting bas****

[@ArturoStojanoff]

The reason you don't have an "independent man" trope, is that the systems of interdependence we live in already afford men agency. Thus, we get to live in interconnected communities where we can rely on others and satisfy our social needs without losing our power in the process. When you expect women to be powerful only in their independence, you forget that women, as humans, also need other people, need community, get their social and emotional needs satisfied by interacting with others. We shouldn't want independent women, we should want systems of interdependence where women also have a say. An example: When a character that's painted as an "independent woman" ends the movie with a kiss and a love interest, we (correctly) recognize a certain amount of loss in her agency within her story. When a male protagonist ends a movie with a kiss and a love interest, we don't get the feeling he's losing his power, in fact, he is being rewarded, his individuality is validated. This isn't because women NEED to be alone to be empowered, but because the institution of marriage, and with it the typical heterosexual relationship, is embedded in a series of implicit power dynamics, where the man is empowered and the woman disempowered. In order to subvert this version of a couple, the movie or text has to actively show us how this relationship doesn't include these tropes, it has to flesh out the relationship, so we understand its unique individual power dynamics, otherwise, we assume the standard. When we assume the standard for a man, however, he doesn't seem to lose his agency in the process, so ending the movie with the beginning of a relationship doesn't imply that he's losing power. The truth is both men and women need supportive relationships, be they romantic or platonic, in their lives to be fulfilled. Very few people live happily as hermits. But the types of relationships we are used to tend to subdue the woman's role, which is why we find a woman's liberation in the rejection of any of those relationship templates. Unfortunately, the woman ends up lonely, which is also not ideal.

[@krankarvolund7771]

I have more simple, if the trope of the incependant man does exist, it's because men are assumed independant. Women are assumed dependant. So, the trope of a man would be a dependant man (child, disabled person, patient, etc...). You don"t define a trope by the vast majority of protagonists existing ^^

[@ArturoStojanoff]

Chris I guess that’s true. I hadn’t seen it that way. Thanks.

[@ArturoStojanoff]

Krankar Volund Yeah that makes sense too! Thanks.

[@mandlerparr1]

@@Chris-rg6nm only if that is the focus of the movie. and rarely is it the main character, but the men around him that tell him this in some attempt to scare him out of a relationship. But, even when movies have those plot lines, it is usually made very clear by the end that the main male character is gaining love and still keeping his old life (or getting an even better life) after getting the girl. He works for his dad, unhappily. end of the movie, he has started his own business and got an already independent woman who loves him. He bounces from job to job, end of movie he has a stable job that he loves and an already independent woman who loves him. He is a single dad that works too much and leaves his kid with a nanny or his ex has custody and he rarely sees his kid. at the end of the movie he has a promotion that pays him more, but lets him work less hours, he has his kid over all the time, and an already independent woman who loves him. and most of the losing independence comments in those movies derive from not wanting to help raise their own children or spend time with their own wife. the character who does this in the movie is generally regarded as the failure in the group, expressing views that the other men sometimes feel, but have largely grown out of.

[@BigHenFor]

No, you're wrong. People evolve. Women evolve from the dependence of childhood, and they can evolve to be independent women who make conscious and clear choices whether they are single or in a relationship, and even when they choose to have children, they will and choose how to look after them. Agency is the ability to choose how to act within the circumstances you find yourself. One should not conflate the circumstance of being in a relationship or having children as a loss of independence. Relationships and motherhood are vocations that a truly independent woman chooses to enter, and chooses how to fulfil. That is true autonomy and that includes the freedom to choose. To choose to assert one's rights, and assume responsibilities. That's what life is really about - the choices you make. That's why Interdependence, whether intimate or communal, is built on a foundation of Independence, because the fabric of interdependence is a mutual acknowledgement of and respect for individual and shared needs. Lose that, and you have co-dependence. That's why we need to be the people we seek to have in our lives. We need to learn to be kind and compassionate to ourselves, so we might love ourselves enough to grow to be someone who can truly love another.

[@stephanieevans9223]

I love this point!!!! We need more stories where it’s clear that women don’t need men, but they can have them if they want them, and that it’s only natural to need friends and family to share the struggles of life with. Essentially, we need female protagonists that are REAL women.

[@lilinectar29]

Why am I crying? This reminds me how much I adore my fellow women, and I'm so proud to be one.

[@jenn9911]

A great example of the independent women in love is Leslie from Parks and Rec. Her relationship with Ben is built on equality, because Ben is a supportive husband and Leslie’s story isn’t just about her relationship with Ben, not even close. I love her, true icon. Also on Breakfast at Tiffanys I don’t know what to think of the ending. I don’t think the ending is bad because he doesn’t really want to tame her, he just wants to be with her, but please correct me if im wrong because I haven’t seen the movie in a long time, and I don’t remember it perfectly

[@Confettifun]

Kind of disappointed that you didnt bring up the “independent black woman who dont-need-no-man” trope and how dangerous/damaging it is for us

[@lolsous]

@Black Ninja This video is very white, but I think it is because most "independent woman" characters in film are white, Hidden figures is the exception. The Take reviews media, they don't say that all people can be financially independent, that women of color should work harder and so on. But I thought it was weird that they didn't bring up the race issue at all, especially when exploring the modern interpretations of the independent woman. Hopefully they will make a future video on it.

[@aasthabisht3431]

It is mentioned in black girl trope video if I'm not wrong. They mention how idolizing black women in movies too is creating a dangerous notion for the reality of African American women in real life

[@lolsous]

@Black Ninja Nothing, except for depictions in media.

[@lolsous]

@Black Ninja I mean, women over all have less developed and varied roles in films and TV compared to men. And there seems to be a change for the better, like the video says, especially when women are writing or directing too. But, women of color are still barely seen in roles that are not very stereotypical. Almost all examples they include of women in leading roles and in roles as "independent woman", are white. I guess you noticed the same. My point was that this accurately represents what movies and TV give us, but that it felt a bit odd that the Take didn't comment at all on it.

[@enigmace9787]

They did make a "strong black woman" video

[@caitlin329]

Most of Buffy's arc is actually about how a lot of her strength comes from her family and friends -that's what sets her apart from the other slayers. There's an entire season about her relationship with her sister, for example (long before Frozen). The entire final season is about women empowering and supporting each other in order to liberate themselves. Their collaboration is what gives them the greater power.

[@caitlin329]

I think it's important to show how it's possible to be strong and independent whilst also being vulnerable and having strong/complex relationships.

[@_Sakidora_]

Buffy's is a heroine's journey not a hero's. They are quite different. One emphasises networking and strength in connection and team playing and the other in acting alone.

[@clautastic9186]

I watched Enola Holmes last night and felt so inspired, I'm in my 40's and yet this movie hits hard. This video came just in time!

[@MeWe-fh1lu]

When I saw the boy(forgot his name) I was like "Oh no not this dumb hate/love trope" but they did a great job

[@clautastic9186]

@@MeWe-fh1lu It was amazing!! It's one of the best "hate" to love relationships I have seen.

[@MissCaraMint]

It had it's good moments. There were others I wasn't too happy with, historical inaccuracies and some not-like-other-girls-ness. It did make me want to check out the books though.

[@jadziawynter9241]

Do the witch trope with the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina characters!

[@maggierobertson2962]

This would be a great series leading up to Halloween. The Psychopath trope, the Vampire trope, etc...

[@suoutubez19]

That show is garbage

[@Slm99]

I was thinking the same thing recently.

[@shalini_sevani]

Never seen that show, but I love the witch trope.

[@katphish30]

That show is such garbage.

[@evildoesnotsleep-x2b]

the power of true, geuine, supportive friendships cannot be overstated neither in movies nor in life

[@EtamirTheDemiDeer]

Platonic relationships don’t get the recognition and respect that they deserve and I really hope that changes

[@kckazcoll1]

I noticed that Geena Davis is featured in 3 of the movies shown here. On further investigation I found she has established her own Institute on Gender in Media. A strong role model!

[@TheLeah2344]

I’m trying to be an independent woman but right now I’m struggling.

[@koushalyag3608]

Don't hesitate to ask for help from your good friends. Friends will always see you through 🤗

[@jenniferedmond2897]

just because you try to be independent and self-sufficient, does not mean you don't need help at times. It's okay to reach out and lean on others

[@victorortiz6272]

It's rough out there. Now you know what men always feel like.

[@koushalyag3608]

@@victorortiz6272 lel. My sympathies :')

[@Nopenonameok]

@@victorortiz6272 How sad...SIKE

[@adrianfridge]

I wish y’all broke down the Cinderella myth. In the Disney version, she never sought out the prince. She was independent but bound by circumstances. She only wanted to go to the ball for a nice night out.

[@GrainneMhaol]

When Mary Tyler-Moore's voice cracked at the end of "Thank you for being my family", I felt that in my soul.

[@MiffyXL]

Can I just express how happy I am that you remembered Merida from Brave!!!

[@tanyabluved]

It's so funny how the other day I was thinking that The Take should have done a video on this exact trope and they actually did it. I think they're reading my mind. Lol 😂

[@alinenegrea4920]

In little women, there's also this great conversation between Jo and her mom where she sais she loves being independent, and she would never want to give that up, but that she also feels so, so lonely; little women had so many great takes on independence and romance I love the movie (and book!)

[@GenerationNextNextNext]

I would like to see The Jock trope next. I think The Take would really shed more light on it as it is the most overused trope.

[@BlckSWANWhtRbbt]

As well as jock who actually wants to be an artist, musician, or actor but is pressured by others.

[@jessicavictoriacarrillo7254]

They did it :)

[@ipsilonia]

i LOVE how there's so much overlap between "the woman-child" and "the independent woman" tropes. we love the duality!!

[@calebcobb1528]

A problem I have seen with the modernist approach to the independent woman is that it is contingent on making male characters largely villains or incompetent. We need more movies where both men and women are shown equally capable.

[@Darren-ns7bh]

you should do a video about how the sex and the city writers failed samantha. once she got older they turned her into comic relief and a caricature of her former revolutionary independent self due to implicit ageism

[@MariaLuisa-le1rf]

one of the best tropes by far

[@trinaq]

I agree, it's incredibly empowering for young girls, and they'll hopefully have the courage to achieve their goals without the need of a relationship to be fulfilled! 😍👏🏾

[@witchplease9695]

It's only a good trope for white women.

[@MariaLuisa-le1rf]

@@witchplease9695 yeah, I mean, there is still a long way to go when it comes to representativity

[@Nyxthebat04]

@@witchplease9695 Why would you WANT to be seen as submissive, incapable and weak?

[@tritaoph]

i absolutely love this trope, and gag laughing seen a lot of straight guys feeling bothered by it

[@neigeepierrot4694]

I know it's sad how threatened heterosexual men are by independent women

[@dylanaudette9839]

@Manophere. com 1.) To say that Kevin Spacey's death in HOC is a male version of Women in Freezers is to misunderstand what that trope means. It doesn't suggest that every time a woman dies in a work of fiction, it is sexist, just when a strong female character is killed off to serve a male protagonist's character development. HOC's writers' hands were tied with Spacey's cancellation and they killed him off because they had to. There's no such thing as Man in the Freezer, because there isn't nearly enough of a shortage of strong and independent male characters to identify such a trend. 2.) You're pointing to a statistic, if it's even true, that has nothing to do with media representation of men. Fact is, male characters have no era of suppression in terms of characterization to pull themselves out of. It has ALWAYS been the expectation for men to be well-developed and independent in their stories on film. Name one male character who proves otherwise in a movie that doesn't directly set out to subvert character conventions. It is reductive and regressive to say that the effort to make progress in the representation of female characters is an effort we must also apply to men. We don't need it. We have never needed it. 3.) *speech

[@neigeepierrot4694]

Manophere. com interesting point since most male characters do have a love interest yet they are always focused on their careers. Personally you are right there is no independent make troops cause I think their already seen as independent though there probably other reasons

[@dylanaudette9839]

@Manophere. com What exactly does it mean to you for an independent male character to be "validated" by female characters?

[@shreyaadahall]

@Manophere. com we've been asking Hollywood to not pair great independent women with loser insecure validation-seeking men and pair them with an understanding man. You and us are on the same page so become a feminist today for $00.00 were solving men's problem too but you are too threatened. So bye.

[@noorie_noorie_]

Not going to lie, really needed to see this right now. Thank you Take :)

[@jesrieldaug1258]

Please make a video on the wildcard trope like Loki, Jack Sparrow, Varys, Littlefinger.

[@arthurau9231]

I LOVE being single as I find I've noticed I'm not really a relationship romantic type of person. I'm an individual who enjoys doing my own thing and at my own pace. I also enjoy being my own boss as well and I enjoy the flexibility and freedom that comes with being single. I HATE that the media and society views being single as a disease and that it is impossible to be happy without a romantic relationship with someone else. This is where my sadness and depression comes into play with society and media telling me I cannot be happy alone and that I NEED to find a romantic relationship with someone in order to be accepted into society.

[@Mercedes.666]

something I love from Legends of Tomorrow is the relationship between Sarah and Eva "neither of us NEED anyone, but you are who I want" I feel like that is what relationships should be like, a want not a need

[@trinaq]

"A Strong Woman doesn't need a man to make her life complete." Yes, independent women like Elle Woods, Tiana, Mulan and Merida are my idols for precisely this reason! 💪💕

[@cecilabbott6092]

You do realize that Tiana says something along the lines of “and my dream wouldn’t be complete without you in it.”

[@krankarvolund7771]

@This Nigerian Loves Drinking Garri Yeah, but it's not a lost of agency for Mulan. For Tiana, it's different, the whole movie have a problem of message, it says pretty much straight forward that hard-working is not important, it's love that is important. So, it obviously feels as a diminishing arc for Tiana, who is defined by her hard working.... But we can see she does buy her restaurant with her own money (she used her jars of tips and nothing else), and she will run it, so in the end, she kinda is still independant ^^'

[@MissCaraMint]

@@krankarvolund7771 It says "all work and no play" is bad. Sacrificing you personal relationships and hobbies for one single goal is pretty destructive behaviour. You are allowed to strive for success AND live a life you enjoy. You are allowed to have fun and stop to smell the metaphorical roses every once in a while. Just as the prince in that movie NEEDED to become aware that you can ONLY focus on fun and games. you must take responsibility and work to get places in life. They both had what the other did not. That is the point of that movie.

[@krankarvolund7771]

@@MissCaraMint But she clearly ENJOYS cooking and running a restaurant ^^' My problem is that nuanced messages are not adapted for Disney, especially a nuanced message about something they never dealt with; work. And also, if the message is "Do not only work", it's bad represented. There's only two persons that support Tiana in her dream, her best friend and her romantic partner, all the rest of the cast is about love, even her mother do not support her ^^' I don't know how to express that correctly, I did enjoyed that movie, mainly thanks to the songs, but it bothers me that one of the main song contains "Work, nah, love" basicaly.

[@sarachung3383]

I love how many Disney Princesses are in this Video. Great job, Take!!

[@dodgyyoutuber9560]

Please do a Take on depictions of romantic sympathetic cheating. Like in stories about a romance between two lovers when they are married to stuffy mean spouses so it’s justified.

[@Luna.311]

I want someone to create a trope that hasn't been created yet

[@ola171]

I feel so lucky to be living in this generation in the society that I live in as a woman. I have never or extremely rarely faced discrimination (I just passed out from school so I haven't experienced society head on yet but, so far so good!!). Women back then really had a hard time and I'm grateful for those who did fight for Women's' rights because if not for them we wouldn't be here!! Just speaking from my pov, because I wanna acknowledge the progress Humanity has made so far

[@thesourpatchkidd579]

I think that people miss the message of Andy's story in the Devil Wear's Prada. It was a person vs person story, meaning that the "villain" or antagonist was Andy as her conflict wasn't about juggling her job and her personal life, but about the conflict between who you used to be and who you might become. Her bf represented who she used to be and his objections weren't to her becoming successful (he pushed her to stay even when she didn't want to) but to her departure from that past self, and her rejection of Miranda wasn't because Miranda was evil but because she realized this entire time she'd judged Miranda and told herself she would never become her and she'd already done so. Her resolution was about her taking who she used to be and who she became and merging the two to form a new, truer version of herself which can be seen in her obtaining the job she always wanted and reconciling with Miranda and Nate in different ways without choosing one or the other. She's taken the values she started off with and combined them with the lessons she's learned and has become a better, well adjusted young adult ready to pursue the real world more confidently and successfully.

[@aniokay]

Hopefully it will become redundant to have an independent female trope. It should be way too commen at this point in real sociaty to stand out ;-)

[@golden_starlight_]

being economically independent, having a supportive and respectful partner and a good support network is literally what i wish to every woman

[@archer1949]

Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the most perfect genre movies ever made.

[@migaish_]

OMG thank you for adding Whale Rider!! It's such a good important film!

[@jessicavictoriacarrillo7254]

"Monetary" I feel it Honestly it's easier to develop the mental space that you don't need validation from fickle people than achieve financial independence. They need to do a video comparing Legally Blonde and Bridget Jones's diary because both movies are similar but the 1st movie aged better than the diary films.

[@mandlerparr1]

@Manophere. com so, now we can't break up with men because they might commit suicide? It is not a girls or woman's job to be the sole driving force keeping a man alive. Also, men's increased rate of suicide is largely due to their larger ownership of/access to guns. Women attempt suicide at much greater rate than men. men just die more often because their chosen method of suicide is almost always fatal.

[@jolly_39]

Get out of the internet and psychological help. You need it.

[@jessicavictoriacarrillo7254]

@@jolly_39 Thank you

[@velislavastoyanova1117]

Please don't use Captain Marvel as a positive example. She is not a positive example for female empowerment, she's part of the problem - basically a goddess, can do no wrong, Mary Sue, which sets an impossible standard for women, which is so far-fetched it's a caricature. Even Wonder Woman ( a demi-goddess) has flaws that she works through, geez!

[@sofia1161]

THANK YOU

[@ngumlovered7566]

I guess we should just throw away all male marvel superheroes then if your using that logic.

[@velislavastoyanova1117]

@@ngumlovered7566 No, because everyone else was allowed growth and character flaws that they had to overcome (except for the villains but that's another discussion). Black Widow is more developed and she didn't have her own movie till recently (still not released though). Captain Marvel is just a very bland, and counter-message character.

[@Alias_Anybody]

@@ngumlovered7566 Thor (random example) doesn't get used as a bumper sticker for male empowerment.

[@ngumlovered7566]

@@Alias_Anybody bc there’s not such thing

[@idaliu1819]

i think a woman can be financially independent, have a very successful career and still be psychologically/emotionally dependent. she can still tolerate shitty male behaviour, be unknowingly misogynistic, and blindly submissive to patriarchy. its a much more insidious form of disempowerment, because the woman's strength is used to serve a system which was built to work against her. money can be made, it is the mind that is hard to change.

[@laisfrederick5470]

the idea that an independent woman is linked to her financial status is something that capitalism probably created. Capitalism loves to profit from "modern" ideas, see how many advertisements are made with the independent women and they sell this idea of modern women and etc

[@sakhilepadi3501]

That is so true. I know financially independent women who are mentally and emotionally weak in other areas of their lives.

[@AbigailAlbrecht]

Thank you for this video! I had a recent struggle with the topic, and I am so glad that I've been an independent queen without even realizing it, I'm type A personality always hustling my way through life, always having been underestimated for being a woman and from immigrant parents. I never thought how this could be perceived from others and in one or another situation spike jealousy and disdain...

[@cristinarivera5707]

My favorite movie trope ever! I grew up on these movies and I love them. Even now women still get pressured in to getting in to romantic relationships. That should be an option not an obligation. Elle Woods was probably my favorite!

[@cristinarivera5707]

akshay satish This isn’t about men. This is about women and no, men are not under the same amount of pressure to settle down as women are. Stop trying to derail the point!

[@cristinarivera5707]

akshay satish Again! You derailed the conversation to something else. As far as biology, there’s a flaw in that argument. Women are pressured in to relationships to reproduce babies. That should mean that women who already have children or women who don’t want them should be off the hook. That’s rarely the case! People are still obsessed with your relationship status.

[@cristinarivera5707]

akshay satish You have a very narrow view of the world and you just proved my entire point! You said it’s rare to see a good looking woman without a relationship. There’s plenty of good looking women without relationships and you said women not men. Why? Because we expect women to seek out relationships more because that is how they are socialized. We don’t automatically expect good looking men to be in relationships. We expect them to be promiscuous and date several different women until they decide they want to settle down possibly in middle age. This whole power dynamic benefits men! Not a fan!

[@janefehr2028]

akshay satish You are again assuming that every woman wants children 😒. 30s are actually not a bad age to have children, 40s and above are. Plus there is always the option to adopt a child.

[@cristinarivera5707]

Jane Fehr Exactly! It amazes me how close minded people can be! Women have choices now as far as starting a family. Assuming they want children, they can adopt, foster to adopt, IVF, hire a surrogate, sperm donor, or they may even marry someone who has children already and can be a step parent. There’s just too many options out here for women to feel like they have to settle for someone out of FOMO.

[@kristenmosquera6803]

The second I saw the title for this video, I started to sing Independent Woman by Destiny's Child in my head. I'm glad its mentioned in the video. It's a banger.

[@mgdkns6678]

Loved it! Jessica Chastain could’ve been included, she played quite a few strong characters.

[@edwintovar1505]

Her character in the help is my favorite

[@ruthpratt9674]

Could y’all do one for stepmoms please. Im actually tired of us being seen as villains😅. In reality its partly this idea that older women are jealous of youth. And it shows through the evil stepmom trope. Which gives us a bad rap in real life. It doesn’t feel fair.

[@marvinomarmenjivaralvarez2086]

You know you are watching good tv and movies when you recognize most of the characters presented.

[@collinmiller4721]

Samantha giving back Richard’s “I hope that fucker doesn’t break my heart again” diamond is the moment that affirmed my ability to know what I need from a relationship. Also we need more Judy Hopps in this world. 🐰

[@Caterfree10]

I need more Independent Women with love interests. Male, female, and nonbinary ones. I’m so tired of Independent Women without romance anymore.

[@njrom2975]

Mulan , Anna , frog princess have romance . What are u talking about

[@Caterfree10]

@@njrom2975 those are 3 characters to fuck knows how many more and they’re all Disney characters. (Tho tbh fuck Frozen, I despise that movie bc Reasons.)

[@nightwingman666]

You think you can do the Blood Knight Trope? Some examples include Wolverine, Frank Castle, Thor at least in the first half of his first movie, Jamie Lannister, Yara Greyjoy, Arya Stark, Happy from Sons of Anarchy, Dean from Supernatural, and Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica.

[@yuthika2965]

What exactly is the blood knight trope? Sounds interesting.

[@thatdoodlingturtle8783]

I just wanted to point out, JOY ISNT A WOMAN! They are an emotion in an 11 year old girl's head, therefore they have no gender nor any need for a love interest as they are, in fact AN EMOTION!

[@massetozacarias5693]

they only have a form of humanoid female and I agree with you

[@inescastellano7960]

This trope can lead to the "Mary Sue" trope. That's why Captain Marvel and Rei in Star Wars are so critized because they "can do everything" and make no mistakes.

[@lilil9752]

I am not a fan of the mary sue characters but is really annoying people only hates on it when the characters is female but male MS get very little if any backlash

[@xVadRay]

Mary sue is only directed to female characters, there are many male characters like that but no one says anything because they are male

[@alrune8]

Independence =/= Wanting to be alone forever just to make a point. Independence = Being an adult woman, instead of a little girl pretending to be a woman.

[@gamehero6816]

Independence means not being co-dependent. It means working for yourself, while not being afraid to help others or to ask for help if you need it. It means not giving up if you fail, and moving forward when you succeed. It means that even if you are not living on your own, you still have agency.

[@alrune8]

@@gamehero6816 Precisely.

[@sharkiegurl]

I’ve been working and saving money since I was 15 I am now 27 and a home owner. Independence is freedom and I was tough that since a teen.

[@cameronsingletary8941]

lol i love how there is a trope for almost all aspects of a person just in movies they are highlighted or show only one aspect

[@ethanarnold4441]

Thank you, Take, for the wisdom of this video.

[@A-G-A-G]

Omg LOve That you used the whale rider clip. A little known movie made by my new Zealand and holy shit! Watch the rest of that scene cos Kesha castle Hughes puts in an Oscar worthy heartbreaking performance

[@mimibee3835]

Andy's boyfriend was the worst: whiny, unsupportive and utterly selfish. He made her feel like she neglected him but in fact Andy was just busy trying to build up her career! For an independent woman this kind of romantic partner is probably the worst to have...

[@Moonlightmermaid99]

This. Is. The. Best. Video. I’ve . Ever. Watched!

[@arelis4553]

Awesome as always! Was sad to see no mention of Anne with an E on this video. If you have not seen it yet, I HIGHLY recommend it. It became my favorite series...but watch the first few episodes with tissues at hand. 😅

[@christinawasch4526]

And in the end Carrie ends Up with Big. This is soo sad.

[@iamV10010]

Right? Like "oh I've finally mastered commitment, let's do this!" He was constantly giving her the runaround.. like that would ever change irl

[@christinawasch4526]

They were both so toxic to each other, worst couple evaa

[@trinaq]

Seconded, it's ironic how, in a show which preaches the importance of Girl Power and Female Friendships, they had the core female characters all end the show in serious or long term romantic relationships.

[@iamV10010]

@@christinawasch4526 yeah I guess you're right there. I used to love the show when I was younger but now that I'm around the same age as the characters, it's pure cringe. They are super successful career women who act like teenagers when it comes to men.

[@maggierobertson2962]

I think the better ending would have been circling back to her one true love of the entire series, New York City.

[@thebartendingtrader9887]

I love your work! Would you ever do a take on someone like Dennis from it's always sunny?

[@Firegen1]

Can we have a mini take on how attaining the unattainable partner is the hero journey but shit. For Male protags, female protags and non binary ones, one shouldn't waste forever chasing someone who doesn't fit. It has all the hallmarks of a hero story so we buy it. Perservance; struggle, experience, change in environment, however like the independent woman trope shows put that on self development so much more fulfilling.

[@a.carellyvazquezvenegas3103]

I really love your videos, thank you for creating them ❤️

[@Silvercentipede]

I don't actually really like this trope as it sets standards for you to be unbelievably beautiful, have a great body, be an all round general great person but also have this incredible career and unbelievable talents as well. And makes you feel like a failure when you can't do all of them, or even worse, none of them. What is so wrong with just being average? And this is coming from a super ex-overachiever. This tropes makes you feel bad for not being some supernatural badass, whilst also looking flawless, with a spotless house and upbeat personality, you get it, right? How dare we just be average, and just be a good person. And how dare we maybe not know it all and need support from others sometimes.

[@maggiemcfly5267]

Girl, have you watch the video?

[@Silvercentipede]

@@maggiemcfly5267 I haven't had time to yet, but Im just saying I don't like the trope from what I know of it, sorry should have clarified. Maybe it was ignorant of me to post that straight away, but those are some very strong feelings I have about the trope in a broader sense just from what I know. And I just kinda had to get it out. Do you know what I mean? Apologies, I'm very welcome to be be proven wrong.

[@Silvercentipede]

@@maggiemcfly5267 like this video may explain more nuanced exampes of this trope, but it still doesn't mean there aren't some very, very damaging stereotypes of this trope in the media. And like the fact Elle Woods is the main character in the thumbnail, kinda of made me feel I knew the type of woman they'd be talking about. But I'm welcome to be proven wrong and as usual I'm sure it's discussing a variety of it.

[@McSnezzly]

Ellen Ripley from Aliens and Furiosa from Mad Max ...? Both happen to be women thrown into bad situations trying to fend for themselves. Also Elle Woods still had to prove herself because she wasn’t taken seriously bc she’s pretty, which is something even women hate women for. They all need help and accept help when needed.

[@Silvercentipede]

@@McSnezzly I haven't seen the first two, but Elle Woods, look I actively like that film, but I think it's more the fact that she had literally no experience or education in Law or "proper" academia, whereas the rest of them had been working towards these things for their entire fucking life. Then she just opens a book every now and then and BAM she's the best in the class, all whilst still having time to have manicures and gossip. I don't think they didn't like her cos she was pretty, it was because she literally had no experience in this sort of environment at all and it was pain stakingly obvious, even her motif for going in the first place was ridiculous as it was just to get her boyfriend back. I love the film don't get me wrong! But Iike it for what it is, and nothing more, if that makes sense, seeing as all we do is see her study a few times and then she's ridiculously succesful

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

One of the things that I enjoy about the Doris Day movies -- especially Pillow Talk -- is that she has a great career where she's respected and it's acknowledged that she needs someone to look after the house. Thelma Ritter's character comes in daily to clean, so that Doris Day's character can live the rest of her life. I found that liberating once I read it.

[@ruaoneill9050]

I'm surprised and a little bit disappointed that race wasn't discussed a bit more in the video. Or more of an exploration of who gets to be independent, y'know?

[@angelikabatwoman]

Legally blonde is such an amazing movie!!

[@suleiman1520]

Being an independent woman is great, but in my experience women who are particular about labelling themselves "independent women" are just like those dudes who always have to be "alpha"

[@samizdatbroadcasts7654]

Nailed it. Pop culture feminism has mutated into a kind of machismo for women.

[@katharineeavan9705]

Really not sure why Buffy, the character openly delcared to be the most successful slayer BECAUSE she has friends and connections and who ultimately shares her power out (note that isn't giving it up and actually helps her) with women worldwide, is an example of a woman who doesn't rely on others.... She also had a whole monologue about how she's open to love but not done learning to be herself yet, that she's cookie dough and no one gets to eat her until she's delicious cookies and has had that time to 'cook' and be herself.

[@steamboatwill3.367]

Now let's see how many get all triggered over the video without even watching.

[@realSimoneCherie]

It continues to amaze

[@StarDust-th6fm]

Strong indépendant women scare some people lmao

[@McSnezzly]

Star Dust idk, people universally love furiosa from mad max or mulan or Reese Witherspoon from legally blonde

[@StarDust-th6fm]

McSnezzly that’s true, I’ve just noticed a lot of hate towards feminism incorporated in modern media, bc some people find it pandering. It does depend though that was just my impression.

[@KittySnicker]

Star Dust I’m a woman and Captain Marvel sucked but I’m empowered by 1998 Mulan and Legally Blonde!

[@vesito17]

I’d like to point out that Erin Brokovich did not bring a corporation down. The lawsuit resulted in prohibiting affected people from speaking out, but it set a record for the settlement amount.

[@samanjj]

Assuming independent men aren’t a trope is sexist - they are just hidden and not spoke about because it’s expected that they are not independent . Men are obligated to support their families and will work jobs they don’t want to support them. No one is an island including men and women. Truly independent men are more like the rebel, bad boy, or lone wolf. Women are being encouraged to be free assuming that men somehow are and have no obligations. We all make decisions for the betterment of those we care about. Shocker. My take is that Hollywood is shallow due to shallow education of the men that are a part of it.

[@aaliyaheverett2601]

Preach! And if they are independent they are seen as uncommitted or lazy or a womanizer. But if a woman is like that, it's empowering.

[@samanjj]

Aaliyah Everett yeah it doesn’t make sense at all. We are teaching men the wrong lessons perhaps because I am assuming that the men writing this shallow schlock had it easier.

[@samanjj]

Glenna I didn’t mean just that. The key here, men who have obligations to their loved ones including their significant other are clearly showing obligations and chains that they would not keep had they not needed to do it for their families. The money is part of the story but not the whole. Women earning a pay check is to be celebrated and encouraged but there is no need to cut out love interests or even the need to do jobs you hate. A lot of these independent women like Louise had jobs that were not fulfilling right? Well guess what? Many men are in that position in movies too but if they let go of those, most of the time they are seen as dead beats or have lost their minds. It’s not seen as empowerment in the context of the movie. Many men who earn less than their successful wives in movies are seen as deadbeats because there is no such thing as a house husband who is good at it according to Hollywood.

[@samanjj]

@Harmony Alexandria they are usually vilified as workaholics, psychos, or dictators of their families; Basically villains or some how lacking. It’s the man that wants to settle down and have a family or loves or learns to love children as part of his arc who is exemplified as the truly happy one. Not the business man caricature.

[@samanjj]

@Harmony Alexandria I thought we were talking about Hollywood portrayals. In real life lots of things are true and Hollywood showing that would be better than the caricature of men as weird for not fitting a caricature. Feminism works best when both men and women are allowed to be what they want to be to feel free

[@lucia5227]

I ABSOLUTELY love the female friendship story, mainly because it's mostly written by women