By: Oluwadamisi Tayoladega June 18, 2019 03:27
Introduction
The absence of levelled grounds for social and economic development in the society is no doubt the foundational source for the conception of empowerment. These grounds cut across daily provisions, improved standard of living, economic freedom, political participation rights to personal opinions and so on, but which are lacking in the society or not proportionally available to everyone in the society as a result of discrimination based on gender, religion, ethnicity, race and, or disability.
The word empowerment means a process of supporting another person or persons to discover and lay claims to personal freedom or power. The contextual meaning behind the word empowerment either generally, or specifically used is freedom or access to political, social or economic power (i.e willpower) without limitation, barriers and discriminatory instances. A more relational meaning of empowerment is the political, social and economical capacity development of individuals, groups and communities to take control of their circumstances, exercise power and achieve their own goals and the process by which individually and collectively maximize the quality of their lives and gain access to an equal share of resources, including control over those resources.
It's, however, safe to say empowerment refers to measures designed to allow individuals or groups represent their interests, become stronger, and more confident, break free from the thoughts of powerlessness, lack of influence and to recognize their rights and participate in the positive use of their resources.
Having understood what empowerment entails, it becomes imperative to draw the nexus between social and economic empowerment. Social empowerment is believed to be the process of awakening or developing a sense of autonomy, self-confidence and collective participation in socially marginalized people in order to individually and collectively challenge and change social relationships, institutions, and beliefs that exclude poor people from social interactions and keep them in poverty. The need to empower these socially acclaimed poor people is strongly influenced by their individual rights, assets and capabilities; such as: land, education, good health, sense of identity, self-confidence and aspiration for a better future.
Economic empowerment doesn't only allow poor people think beyond daily survival, but also alleviate their standards of living. Economic empowerment affords the populace living below average the control over their resources and choices. The standpoint of economic empowerment is setting a favourable living conditions for individuals or groups to be in control of their own economic destiny and milestone. The basis for both social and economic empowerment can be set by government or civil organizations.
In close contrast, social empowerment contrast with sense of autonomy and independence to improve social status that will allow for equal respect and collective participation. While economic empowerment denotes to improve economically, not just for food or money, but to fulfill immediate needs and raise the economic status.
The empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of their political, social, economic and health status is a highly important ends in itself. Women empowerment is essential to the achievement of sustainable development. (UNFPA, ICPD POA, Cairo, 1994). The empowerment of women, their participation and partnership with men is a prerequisite for productive, reproductive and sustainable life, which includes shared responsibilities, participation in decision-making, spots in leadership roles and opportunity to voice out opinions and interests.
In both developed and developing countries, women face series of threats, health and well-being hazards, domestic violence and other discriminating threats, such as rape, gender stereotyping and so on. Women, being on the receiving end are overburdened with work, lack power and influence, suffer from power relations that deter their attainment of healthy and fulfilling lives, often times do not get recognized of their abilities and discrimination at many levels of society, from the very core family to the most personal and finally to highly public places. These, and other impediments are the reasons why women empowerment becomes necessary in order to improve their decision-making capacity at all levels, to enhance their social awareness and participation and raise their status at all spheres of lives.
From the foregoing, women empowerment has become even more necessary than before, given different calls from international bodies. It has also been identified that women can be empowered in different ways, below are some of these ways:
- empowerment through education as contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that, "everyone has the right to education". This will equip the women with knowledge, skill sets technological know-how and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development process.
- government should empower the women by creating a safe haven at all levels of political process to accommodate the women's equitable representation. This will eliminate negative attitudes and practices that discriminate against and subordinate girls and women to denial to hold political powers and offices.
- women empowerment can also be propagated by government and civil societies by advocating for and legislating against all gender inequalities and gaps that directly affect women's livelihood and participation in the labour market. This will constitute a template for equal pay for equal work or pay for equal work.
Article by Oluwadamisi Tayoladega
08083888403
Executive Director
His Marvellous Grace Support Foundation
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