What I'd also like to call out in this thread is that people, weaker people, always want to take down the strong because it makes them feel less weak. Bad people often want to take down the good people because they're envious of them. Abusers abuse others because they feel inferior, they feel weak and they are ultimately DEEPLY insecure about themselves. So they need to feel power over another because it makes them feel less weak and more powerful. Same with narcissists.

I am ultimately a very strong person in a a lot of ways because of all the many life challenges I've had to overcome. I am weak in several areas, yes, and those are the areas I wish to strengthen and improve. Like being assertive at work as the only female surrounded by men; allowing myself to have a voice at work, and speaking up even when I am anxious and even when my PTSD kicks in, making me physically shake in fear. Being assertive at work and going after that leadership role I wish to have, which I am ready for..... going after it even though my own boss is trying to undermine my success because he sees me as a threat.

My therapist is the completely wrong person to work with me on these issues. She's like, c'est la vie. The world isn't fair, and work is only just work. Status quo. Well, I don't see it that way. It's my career, it's my livelihood. It's also my passion. It's not just work to me. It's not just something I do to pay the bills. I'm in fact, very devoted and very passionate about what I do.

She doesn't strengthen me any, and she doesn't even acknowledge my strengths. She doesn't lift me up, in fact, she can really bring me down. I end up just talking talking talking, without the validation and without the acknowledgement of what I am doing RIGHT and doing WELL.

And women, I think, most especially need the validation and strengthening as women. Women are often subjected to abuse, to being objectified and demeaned. We face all sorts of issues that threaten our safety, our self-worth and our self-esteem. Women are often harassed at work, overlooked for promotions, and receive less pay than men. We still have a LONG way to go to achieve true equality in this world. And at work in so many corporate types of environments, we need to be strong and fight for what we want.

I am not one to let others trample on me, abuse me, take advantage of me, demean me, or pay me less than a man. And there are plenty of those people in this world. I've run across too many of them.

And my boss is one of those weaker people. He backstabs, he feels threatened so he throws people under the bus to make himself look good in front of our CEO, and he lies a lot. He is not a good person; he is not a good team leader. In fact, he demotivates our entire team every single day. I am not the only one that he has targeted. I know this for a fact and from others who have told me so.

What I am getting at I suppose is that I need someone to talk to who will validate my strengths, encourage me to have a strong voice, who will inspire me, and who will strengthen me as a woman. I need a feminist, but I want it to be a male.