In this scene from Act II of Mrs. Warren's Profession, Mrs. Warren discusses with her daughter Vivie why she chose to enter into prostitution. Mrs. Warren argues that it allowed her to earn an independent living and provide Vivie with a good education, unlike other women who lived in poverty. She says that to respect herself and remain self-sufficient, a woman sometimes needs to rely on the financial support of a wealthy man, though it is better if he is of equal social standing to her. Mrs. Warren believes that those who disapprove of her choices do not understand the real world or the need for women to provide for themselves.