There’s a small but concerning misconception circulating on Wattpad lately. A strong, independent woman does not have to be an arrogant, wealthy CEO. She doesn’t have to be someone who parties excessively, becomes a mistress, forces an ex to stay with her, or deliberately stirs chaos in other people’s lives just because they’ve moved on. Yet I keep seeing these traits glorified and labeled as “strong independent woman” tropes. Please stop. This isn’t strength, it’s a complete distortion of the word.
A strong independent woman is someone who values her self-respect above everything else. She cherishes the people she loves but never at the cost of her dignity. She knows how to stand up for herself without tearing others down. She respects boundaries, hers and others, and understands that maturity is not loud or destructive.
She doesn’t need money, power, or social status to prove her strength. She can be poor, innocent, calm, or soft-spoken, yet unshakable when it comes to her principles. Her independence lies in her ability to make her own choices, to walk away from what disrespects her, and to grow without harming others.
Let’s stop romanticizing toxicity and start seeing what real strength in a woman actually looks like.
I have literally seen toxic books like these receive insane numbers of views and engagement, mostly from kids and teenagers. That’s what’s worrying.
I'm sorry for the rant. I just wanted to share it.
