“The shoes on my feet - I’ve bought it. The clothes I’m wearing -  I’ve bought it. The rock I’m rockin’ cause I depend on me. If I wanted the watch you’re wearin’ -  I’ll buy it. The house I live in - I’ve bought it. The car I’m driving -  I’ve bought it. I depend on me.” - “Independent Woman,” Destiny’s Child.

These lyrics were performed by none other than the Queen Bey herself, the original “Independent Woman.” They reject the idea of needing anyone to support you and embracing an independent lifestyle. The 2010’s have been the decade of the independent woman. The early 2000’s saw the woman as the sex symbol, the damsel in distress, the object. Of course, I am speaking generally and there were great accomplishments by women throughout this decade as well. The difference is, the 2010’s celebrate the idea of the independence. We see powerful female musicians like Beyonce, Adele, Taylor Swift, and Nicki Minaj telling women that they don’t need a man and that they are #flawless. Similarly, we see actresses like Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Viola Davis playing characters who show us that independence is unbound by age. Companies like Dove are investing in young women and creating workshops and programs to improve self-esteem at an early age. In the political sphere, we saw 17 out of 34 senate seats up for reelection this year filled by women.

All of the representation of strong women in the media has encouraged independence that is important to instill in our children. We live in a world with a tough economy and an unforgiving job market. Independence is key to success. While I have gone on and on about the independent tone of the 2010’s, 2016 also saw the highest percentage of young adults living at home with their parents. This is very problematic. While there are situations that demand moving back home, many of the circumstances highlighted in this study were late 20-somethings living with their parents to avoid bills. Independence is partially learned, but it is also a decision we make. Helping your children to reach that decision can mean that they won’t live with you until they are 30 years old. By choosing independence, a person can begin his journey to reaching his full potential and becoming #flawless.

Bria