What is an 'Independent Woman'

[MrMan]

Over the years, I have heard TV or read on the Internet from men who say they want an 'independent woman'. I have heard or read women using this phrase also.

What does it mean? Destiny's Child had a song for the Charlie's Angels about an independent woman buying her own jewelry, house, phone, etc. Does the phrase mean financially independent, or is there more too it than that?

If I were looking for a marriage partner, a woman describing herself as an 'independent woman' in the context of dating or marriage would be a turn off, maybe a red flag. What does that mean? Would she be unwilling to have me support her if the situation called for that? Does she want to live in a separate house and meet on occasion? Marriage is an interdependent relationship. Being 'independent' in the context of marriage may indicate she doesn't want to act like a real, regular married couple.

Does it mean she won't submit to me and wants to retain some high measure of control over her own life... another turn off and red flag from my perspective.

My wife is a go-getter type, very active, very social. But if she'd said she was an 'independent woman' when we met, I would have been having some conversations to clarify that.

Some people are kind of 'independent' in their personalities. That's okay if they realize what marriage is supposed to be like and embrace it. I don't know why a man would say he wants an 'independent woman' unless he is signaling that he doesn't want to financially support his wife.... or unless he is just pandering to women by repeating back what they want to hear, or saying some junk he heard on TV or read on the Internet.

[Cornfed]

It means a women dependent on men collectively through the system rather than dependent on a particular man. Obviously women would starve to death or be captured and enslaved right quick if they were actually independent.