The state of being free from control or support by others; the ability to make your own decisions.
From 'independent' plus the noun suffix '-ence'. 'Independent' comes from Latin 'in-' (not) and 'dependere' (to hang from), so independence is the state of ‘not hanging from’ something else.
Independence is about not ‘hanging from’ another person, country, or system. It doesn’t mean isolation; it means you could stand on your own even if you choose to connect.
The concept of independence has been gendered, with men historically cast as independent breadwinners and women as dependent caregivers. Women’s and gender minorities’ struggles for legal, economic, and bodily independence have often been underrepresented in mainstream narratives.
When discussing independence, be explicit about whose independence is at issue and recognize gendered barriers to achieving it.
["autonomy","self-determination","self-sufficiency"]
Acknowledge women’s and gender-diverse people’s movements for property rights, voting rights, workplace equality, and reproductive autonomy as central to the history of independence.
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