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Empowerment Needs a Conscience
What an incredible show, with one of the greenest-flag MLs I’ve seen. The chemistry between the leads was wonderful, and Miles Wei’s acting was flawless. The ML’s initial behavior toward the FL was insulting, but what made his arc so satisfying was how completely he redeemed himself. Once he understood her, he pursued her relentlessly and, from that point forward, showed her nothing but kindness, patience and unwavering devotion. The FL as a pilot was equally convincing; she carried the confidence and competence of one beautifully.
The show also does a remarkable job of portraying women’s strength and advocating for women’s empowerment. But empowerment should be rooted in loyalty, kindness, equality and responsibility—not selfishness.
The FL’s words to her mother in Episode 24 perhaps sum up the emotional cost best: “Since the day you left, I’ve missed you more every day. The more I missed you, the weaker I got. The more I hated you, the tougher I got.” She is portrayed as the toughest kid on the block, yet no child should have to build that kind of strength from abandonment, resentment and pain.
A mother or father walking away from a young child and a family in pursuit of a career should not be romanticized, normalized or celebrated. A career built on the broken pieces of your child’s happiness is not success. If the parent in this story had been a man, would we be equally eager to defend, forgive and celebrate him? I doubt it.
We have become far too comfortable treating emotional abandonment as though it leaves no scars simply because there are no visible bruises. Mental trauma and emotional abuse deserve the same seriousness as physical harm. Children should not have to carry the burden of understanding and forgiving the adults who caused their wounds.
And if we are going to challenge traditional gender roles, let’s challenge them for everyone. Why must the ideal man be the brilliant achiever, future CEO, breakfast-maker, dinner-cook, relentless pursuer, constant sacrificer—and invariably the first to apologize?
Let’s aspire to something better: a society where women can pursue their ambitions without stepping over the happiness of those who depend on them, and where men are not expected to endlessly give while women simply receive. Let both make the effort, sacrifices and compromises that love, family and friendship require.
Empowerment should elevate both women and men—not excuse selfishness in either.
The show also does a remarkable job of portraying women’s strength and advocating for women’s empowerment. But empowerment should be rooted in loyalty, kindness, equality and responsibility—not selfishness.
The FL’s words to her mother in Episode 24 perhaps sum up the emotional cost best: “Since the day you left, I’ve missed you more every day. The more I missed you, the weaker I got. The more I hated you, the tougher I got.” She is portrayed as the toughest kid on the block, yet no child should have to build that kind of strength from abandonment, resentment and pain.
A mother or father walking away from a young child and a family in pursuit of a career should not be romanticized, normalized or celebrated. A career built on the broken pieces of your child’s happiness is not success. If the parent in this story had been a man, would we be equally eager to defend, forgive and celebrate him? I doubt it.
We have become far too comfortable treating emotional abandonment as though it leaves no scars simply because there are no visible bruises. Mental trauma and emotional abuse deserve the same seriousness as physical harm. Children should not have to carry the burden of understanding and forgiving the adults who caused their wounds.
And if we are going to challenge traditional gender roles, let’s challenge them for everyone. Why must the ideal man be the brilliant achiever, future CEO, breakfast-maker, dinner-cook, relentless pursuer, constant sacrificer—and invariably the first to apologize?
Let’s aspire to something better: a society where women can pursue their ambitions without stepping over the happiness of those who depend on them, and where men are not expected to endlessly give while women simply receive. Let both make the effort, sacrifices and compromises that love, family and friendship require.
Empowerment should elevate both women and men—not excuse selfishness in either.
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