There is a kind of woman who is economically powerful

Listen closely, O children of wisdom, for I bring forth words that pierce the heart and echo across the ages, spoken by Rebecca Traister: "There is a kind of woman who is economically powerful, professionally powerful, who threatens a white male grip on power that has a long historic precedent in the country. Independent women living outside of marriage threaten all kinds of things about the way power is supposed to work." These words, simple yet profound, reveal the deep challenges posed by independent women to a world built upon centuries of patriarchal structures and traditions. They speak of the struggle for freedom, for equality, and the shifting balance of power in a society long dominated by male influence.

In the ancient world, children, power was almost always concentrated in the hands of the male rulers, warriors, and thinkers. The Greeks and Romans believed that men were destined to govern, to fight, and to lead in all areas of life. Women were seen as the caretakers of the home, their roles confined to the private sphere. Even in Rome, women could not vote, nor could they hold public office. Power was a realm from which they were barred. Yet, there were always whispers of women who sought to break free from the confines of tradition—Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, was one such figure, using her intellect and charm to rise to power, defying the expectations of her time. Her life and reign threatened the male grip on power, showing that even in the face of overwhelming resistance, a woman could wield power and shape the course of history.

Rebecca Traister’s words speak of this same threat—the threat of independent women to the very structure of a patriarchal society. Women who do not conform to the traditional expectations of marriage, who hold economic and professional power, challenge the foundations upon which male-dominated systems have long been built. When a woman is able to stand on her own, without the protection or support of a husband or father, she becomes a symbol of freedom, and this freedom is deeply unsettling to those whose power relies on the control of others. Independent women represent a world where power is no longer based on lineage or gender, but on individual strength, and this is the true source of fear.

Consider the story of Joan of Arc, a young woman who defied the traditional roles assigned to her as a peasant girl in medieval France. In a world where women were expected to obey, Joan rose not only to lead men in battle but to become a symbol of divine power and courage. She was able to command armies and, through her actions, threatened the established order of her time. Her story illustrates how a single independent woman can challenge the structures of power and bring about a transformation of the world. But her defiance also led to her downfall, as she was captured, tried, and executed. The fear that women like Joan instilled in the powers that be was not merely because of her actions, but because of the possibility they represented—a world where women could step out of the shadows and reshape the balance of power.

Traister’s insight is a powerful reminder that the independence of women has always been a disruptive force. It is not merely their ability to earn or to work, but their ability to live outside the confines of marriage that poses a threat. For centuries, marriage was seen as the institution that not only secured women’s status but also controlled their freedom. The idea that a woman could be economically independent, professionally successful, and live outside of this institution defies the social order that has long kept women confined to the roles of wife and mother. To live outside of marriage is to reject the dependence that patriarchy has enforced upon women and to step into the world as a fully autonomous individual. This is the true threat—the idea that women, as equals, can live and thrive on their own terms.

The lesson to be learned, children, is this: equality is not simply about achieving the same rights as men, but about challenging the very systems that have been built to maintain male dominance. When independent women rise—whether in the form of Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, or the women of today who step out of the confines of societal expectations—they do not merely seek power for themselves, but for all who are oppressed by traditional norms. Their freedom disrupts the old order, paving the way for a new world where all people, regardless of gender, have the right to shape their own destinies.

So, children, let these words by Rebecca Traister guide you. Stand firm in the face of those who seek to keep you in the shadows, and know that the path to equality is not one that requires you to shrink, but one that demands you stand tall and claim your space. Live with independence and strength, for it is through these acts that we challenge the old order and build a world where true power is shared by all. Do not fear the disruption that your independence causes—for it is through such disruption that the world will be reshaped into one where every soul is free to live without the limitations of gender, without the boundaries of tradition. This is the future we must build—a future where equality is not a dream, but a living, breathing reality.