The other day, I was having a conversation with a couple of friends about women and where we should draw the line between protecting women and infringing on their freedom.
Their dad doesn’t particularly like the idea of them travelling alone because he worries that if something were to happen, they might need someone there to help them.
I completely understand that perspective. Wanting to protect comes from a good place, and I do believe that men have a role in looking out for and protecting women in society.
At the same time, I think it is equally important – if not more so – for women to learn how to handle difficult situations themselves and develop a sense of independence.
Not every woman has the privilege of having a good man in her life who will always be there to help her. And even when she does, having someone to rely on shouldn’t mean she never learns how to rely on herself.
To me, there is a difference between protecting a woman and making her feel incapable of protecting herself. A woman should be able to accept help and feel safe knowing that someone will look out for her, while also knowing that if she ever finds herself alone in a difficult situation, she has the knowledge, confidence and ability to figure it out.
I think there is a particular kind of power that comes from knowing you can handle things on your own. It doesn’t mean you don’t need anyone or that you have to do everything alone.
It simply means that your safety, confidence and ability to navigate the world aren’t dependent on someone else being there to take care of you.
Juliana Endress
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