You Are Not Independent: You've Simply Changed Who You're Dependant upon.
It's not unfamiliar for a man to hear a woman bragging about her "independence." She may do so, while also requiring that her potential mate be independent himself. But is she truly independent and what is independence?
Independence is simply, being able to do for oneself without having to depend on another for livelihood or subsistence.
In one instance I met a young woman who was extremely anxious to leave the nest. She wanted to be "independent," or so she said As she saw it, living with her mother was keeping her from this goal. She had a child and didn't feel it was right to still be living under her mother's roof. So this young lady decided to go to her local social security office and get the government to fund a new living situation, separate from the one she already had.
Now that she has "her own place," she feels free enough to go on challenging men to go out and get their own Unfortunately it's not that simple In many instances, men cannot reap the same benefits that women can from the government in regards to housing & welfare. Even if this were possible, you could never consider it to be true independence. By leaving her mother & getting government aid, this young lady had simply switched the terms of her dependency.
One example in trends that seem to be plaguing young Americans is their dependence on outside sources of food. Eating out every night instead of cooking your own meals isn't truly living independent. If you do not know how to cook then you are dependent on fast food & restaurants to do the cooking for you. Not only is this unhealthy, but it is also not a part of true independence.
Furthermore the music that has influenced many of these individuals to sing songs praising their so called independence, has aided in keeping many of its listeners trying to keep up with the Joneses. Seeing these artists in fancy clothes chanting a tune of independence all while having them sell you a smorgasbord of products that will eventually have you owing large amounts of debt is not helping to strengthen anyone's independence.
Moreover it could be argued that people depend on these artists tell us what's in fashion. People are depending on them to tell them what's hot and what's not. So in actuality people are becoming dependent on the same individuals who want you to believe that you aren't.
Individuals who do not own a home that is fully paid for are dependant on banks to help them pay for their housing. Renters depend on a landlord to give them an affordable rate to live under a roof that they do not own. Is this true independence? No.
To be clear, every person in America is dependent on someone else for something or another. To attack men, or anyone, on the extent of their dependence seems a bit unfair. Granted, one should do all in their power to not be a hindrance to the people around them. It is to be commended when you are able to do for self, but it is no crime to be dependent on others. We are all dependent in some form or fashion.
Men and women who choose to stay at home should not be frowned upon. In other countries such as Italy and Spain many adults have chosen to live in the same house as their parents. The reason for this is simply money and convenience. In today's economy I expect to see more of this kind of behavior in the U.S..
Will people launch attacks on men and women who want to live at home and assist their poor old single parents who would be all alone if it were not for their children? Would these same individuals, in their old age, want to live alone if there were another option? Is it wrong that someone chooses to stay home and save his/her money until she has finished school and gotten her own career or gotten married?
The truth is that women, who accuse men (or vice versa) of being dependent, are probably not so independent themselves. Their constant complaining about men not being independent could and should, in many instances, be looked on as hypocritical.
