My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.

Summary

This quote highlights the understanding the speaker's mother had about femininity. Being a "lady" for the mother does not mean adhering to traditional standards of femininity, but rather, it implies being true to oneself and being self-reliant. The mother encourages her child to be their own person, free from the constraints of societal expectations. This quote emphasizes the importance of independence and individuality as the characteristics that define being a "lady" in the eyes of the speaker's mother.