In the short story “Riff-Raff”, the narrative implies that women need masculine protection or a male presence in their lives in order to stay secure and remain well. On the contrary, my counter-narrative contradicts this assumption by reinforcing women’s strength and resilience, emphasizing their capacity to surpass life’s obstacles on their own merits. The main character’s struggle to flee a terrible relationship and go on a solo trip to New Mexico highly displays her bravery and tenacity. It acts as a reminder that, free of the shackles of traditional gender roles, women are fully capable…