We must teach this message to our daughters and their daughters. For too long, females have been conditioned to "give themselves away" to a man who would take care of their physical needs - provide shelter, food, income, safety. In some insane way, that came to infer they were the property of this husband/provider. The female had to sell herself out.

No longer is that idea nor the resulting relationship imbalance acceptable.

Females need to see that they are self-sufficient, lovable and valuable as they are. Self-love. Self-respect. Self-sustainability. They need to know that they do not need an intimate (male) counterpart unless it is within a collaborative, cooperative, healthy, equal partnership.

The only way this works is if we also teach males the same. Send a clear message that they do not need a woman to complete them, make their house a home, or replace their mommy. They must know how to personally take care of those concerns before they seek out a spouse. Understand that they do not own nor hold power over their female partners.

We have a long road ahead of us, but I see great progress happening in Millennials and Gen Z.

Thanks for this excellent article! It helps open up the mind to greater possibilities.