Margaret Fuller, Beyonce, and "Makers" Presentation

from Woman in the Nineteenth Century

My favorite line from this piece was " Religion was early awakened in my soul, a sense that what the soul is capable to ask it must attain, and that, though I might be aided and instructed by others, I must depend on myself as the only constant friend.  This self-dependence, which was honored in me, is deprecated as a fault in most women.  They are taught to learn their rule from without, not to unfold it from within."  

This quote really caught my attention when reading through this piece because I feel this can relate to many women still today.  It reminds me of that Beyonce song called "Me Myself and I", the line in that song says ".. I took a vow that from now on I will be my own best friend."  Obviously they most likely have completely different meanings to the words, however, Beyonce is a very empowering woman, and I also love those lyrics in her song.  I think that every woman, or person in general, has that similar goal in life of realizing we are our own constant friend.  We enter this life alone and leave just the same, however through our journeys in this world we tend to begin to believe, well most of us anyways, that our sole being depends on others around us.  I think yes, we do depend on each other especially as woman.  However, at some point in time we all realize that we have to like ourselves more than those other people, because if you don't then who will.  

I also think that relating this to men and how back in the day women were taught to depend on men for money, love, and children.  But now a days that is changing.  Women are more independent in every one of those aspects.  But, such as I learned during the "Makers" presentation not too long ago, this was looked down upon by a lot of people.  Women who were as independent as they are today were criticized for not being dependent on the man more and for taking charge with their own careers and lives independently.  So women were taught to "learn their rule from without", meaning know their place in life from the others around them, such as being a mother or wife, "not to unfold it from within", meaning not find their own passion and run with it wherever it may take them.