Pretence as an art form results in women accepting ill-treatment by others

I refuse to pretend to be different to my true self in a misguided attempt to please others.

SHONDA RHIMES, the creator and producer of such TV shows as Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, was recently asked in an interview about the experience of being a single mother to three daughters aged three to 14.

The interviewer was curious as to how she was encouraging them to become confident young women and Rhimes replied by saying: “They [her daughters] couldn’t be more different from another, but they’re all stubborn — and I mean that in the best way... It’s so much better than having a nice, pliable child who can be easily manipulated. I don’t want to have a nice girl. I’d rather have a stubborn girl.”