RULE OR BE RULED

What endeared me to Amelia Peabody was her seemingly progressive view of female autonomy and her desire not to be confined by marriage. Yet, some women (and even some men) find relief in entrusting their lives to their respective spouses. This is something I have never understood.

When I was nineteen, I moved 2,000 miles from my small hometown. The same fear of being ruled or of ruling others was present in my mind when I looked around at those I grew up with. Like Amelia, I ventured into a different place (though not another country) to find my purpose and, similarly, found a partner who suited me well

Little did I know I was searching for a man who was unafraid of a woman's opinion, could argue, and would go toe-to-toe with me. My goal was never to exclude a man from my life, but I was determined that only a man who was both self-confident and humble would provide the necessary balance.