27/03/2025
This moved me. As a therapist who works with women overcoming suppression and abuses or many kinds, and carrying the shame birn from the insecurities of others, I resonated.
To the man who commented, âthis is whatâs wrong with women these daysâ, when I wrote of raising a daughter whoâll be aware of her worth and unashamed of her fire, I didnât mean to frighten you. I understand that strong women can be quite threatening to weak men.
To the man who commented, âno man will want herâ, when I wrote of raising a daughter whoâll have her own voice and the audacity to use it freely, Iâm sure that was hard to hear. The thought of a woman proudly defiant, who you canât control or intimidate, probably sent a shiver down where your spineâs supposed to be.
And to the man who commented, âsounds like a future cat ladyâ, when I wrote of raising a daughter whoâll know her value doesnât need validating, please donât take it so personally. The type of life she designs is for her to decide, but I promise, it will be filled with love, regardless.
Itâs obvious that youâre all hurting. Iâm sorry if I upset you or stirred something up inside. Did your mother not hug you enough? Did your father not allow you to cry? Did your wife leave and take half of your decency, too?
Youâre not displaying masculinity.
Youâre broadcasting insecurities.
Your values arenât âtraditionalâ, theyâre chauvinistic.
Many of the strongest men Iâve ever known have a woman just as strong standing beside them. Their manhood isnât assailed by their wifeâs confidence or outspokenness.
And not a single one of the strong women Iâve known were made âlessâ by being alone. If anything reduced them, it was acquiescing to impotent men.
The irony is that when I say I will raise my daughter to be bold and assertive, unflinching and fierce, the ones provoked by that donât realize theyâre the reason why.
J. Raymond
