The father protects her while she is a maiden. The husband protects her while she is young. Sons protect her when she is aged. Woman can never be independent as long as they live.
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने। पुत्राश्च स्थविरे काले नास्ति स्त्रीणां स्वतन्त्रता॥