Women Empowerment

In the contemporary era, empowerment of women is a global concept. Since the second half of the twentieth century, the issue of women’s empowerment has gained importance among scholars of universities, and in national and international platforms. Now a days, it is highly discussed and debatable phenomenon.

Since from the first wave feminism movement till today, many approaches and theories emerged in to the field of women empowerment at global level, which talks about gender issues, gender equality, gender justice, gender stereotypes and so on. On the basis of these approaches of empowerment, intervention programmes and strategies developed for the women empowerment. Today, we have many organizations working for the women empowerment at various stages.

When we observe this scenario in India, we will find more or less similar situation. Many social scientists, research scholars, social workers, social activists across the country working for the women empowerment in various region. Concept of empowerment undergone through many changes since its inception till today. If we assess this time span, it is not necessary to be all positive or all negative. In this journey, many milestone results achieved in the field of women empowerment by various approaches and strategies. But, in the contemporary era, which is highly dynamic, it is creating complex situation. We can see that is resulting in to the situation of gender conflict, i.e. Men VS Women, which again creating imbalance in the entire social system.

Hence, it is needed to understand nuances of women empowerment in India, to make concept and process of women empowerment effective in such a way, which will be resulting in to smoothening function of social system. Therefore, this paper attempts to understand nuances of 'empowerment', propose a newer approach of 'women empowerment' in the context of Indian society.

Concept of Empowerment

Dictionary meaning of the verb 'empower' is 'to empower', 'to give power to'. “Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, or economic strength of individuals and communities….” (Retrieved from http://www.empowermentillustrated.com).

If we see it is a quite complex concept. Various authors defines it from their own perspectives. According to Sushama Sahay (1998), “Empowerment is an active, multi-dimensional process which enables women to realize their full identity and powers in all spheres of life”. Goodrich describes empowerment as “a benevolent but unilateral transaction in which one person enhances another’s ability to feel competent and take action, that is, enhances another’s power-to” (Patricia, Darlington & Mulvaney, 2003, p. 12).

In this trend, if we understand 'empowerment', it means that to give power to an individual or group by external aid or external intervention process. It indicates that the person who are being empowered has no power and hence, we are providing power to him/her, to enhance their life.

Here, we put this term 'empowerment', which holds aforementioned meaning, as affix to the 'women' and comes with 'women empowerment'. Does it justify the entire process? Does it's (empowerment) meaning goes well, when we are discussing it in the context of 'women'?

Self Discourse on Women 'Empowerment'

'Women Empowerment' means giving power to women in order to make them able to take stand for self, develop their own identity and get freedom to choose. Here, in this concept objectives of women empowerment is true at its place, but when we see it from 'process' dimension i.e. 'women empowerment' as process, then it is 'giving power to women by external aid or intervention'.

According to me it is not justifiable, because power is already resides within them. A woman creates a living being from her own self. We all are very aware that any creation in the cosmos requires ample of energy. So, when a woman creates a creature from self, it proves that she has huge energy resides within. A woman can never be weak. It is just that she is unaware with her own potential. We just need to make her realize her own potential.

So, we don’t need to provide power to women i.e. 'empowerment'; but, it is just to make her realize her own identity i.e. 'true realization of womanhood'. Once, a woman will realize her 'womanhood', her own identity that is 'who I am' and 'What I can do', then it will develop a holistic sense about her every action in the context 'self' and 'others' also.

This approach of the 'True Realization of Womanhood' will lead to efficient functioning of the entire social system. In addition to this, this approach in working with women will lead to development of women as gender in the context of society, not in the context of feminism.

Man and woman as a gender are two hands of the society, which has their own significance in the entire social function. During a course of time, due to some reasons one hand i.e. woman left behind, which created situation of disequilibrium in social function, which resulted in to many problems we had and have currently.

Its solution is to uplift the section, which is left behind. But, if we uplift that section i.e. 'woman' in the context of feminism only, then again it will result to the development of section of women at a scale and left other section behind. It will again create situation of disequilibrium in society.

Hence, we require development of women in the context of society, which will create equilibrium condition in the social functioning. Approach of 'True Realization of Womanhood' ensure this development, i.e. development of women in the context of society, not only in the respect of 'women' only.

Now question comes that how to convert this approach in to action? We have its answer in the form of an organization named 'Narayani'.

Narayani Trust

Narayani Trust is an organization, which is working with women with aforementioned philosophical base. Narayani Trust envisions a society that imbibes and ensures value of gender harmony, happiness and peace. Transform this vision in to reality is emphasized on its mission to serve woman of the society.

Mission of the trust is to initiate and facilitate women to realize their innate potential through emphasizing on their latent strength and to work with both genders to make them realize their significant contribution in social function.

Narayani Trust is looking forward to influence large socio-economic environment, which would enable the desired change in the society.

Conclusion

The aforementioned approach to the women empowerment and practice based on it, while working with women will create a balance society, which will lead to smoothening of its entire function.

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