What is women's empowerment?

 

For starters it’s an oxymoron. Logic implies that one can empower that which does not have power or is weak. Indian thought tradition refers to women as Shakti which literally means power or strength. Goddess Durga worshipped by Hindus symbolizes strength and energy. If a woman is power and strength by definition, how can anyone empower her? A woman is a source of power. A woman is a giver and not a taker. This is reality I have experienced. in my mother, grandmother, teachers at school, friends, wife, daughter, colleagues and so many other great women. I owe my life and existence to the strength and care they provide(d). THEY empower me.

What it is not?

Some say that women’s empowerment is giving them equal opportunities in education, employment and other fields. Let’s take a step back. If equal opportunities weren’t there to begin with, that is a flaw in the existing system or culture. All this while unfairness was meted out to women and now there is an attempt to fix the fault in the system. Fixing this is very much needed and appreciated but let’s not confuse this with empowerment. This has nothing to do with women’s empowerment. Atonement for a sin on the part of a doer can’t be equated to a favor bestowed on the affected.

For some preventing crimes against women and protecting them is women’s empowerment. The fact that such incidents happen with such shocking regularity in a so called civilized society is a matter of shame. And it is not always uneducated brutes who do this. There are educated brutes in corporate, academic and other sophisticated settings who are equally culpable. There is certainly a need for disciplining and humanization of the perpetrators (actual and potential). Fix the source of the problem. Women don't need any empowerment.

What is women’s empowerment ?

Thinking that physiology defines a woman is like floating on the surface of the ocean. You know nothing about the ocean except its outward appearance if you are floating on the surface. During Navaratri Hindus chant a beautiful hymn in praise of the Divine Mother called the Durga Saptashati which means 700 verses for Durga. The 5th chapter has some verses which take you from surface to the depth.

1) She who resides in every being in the form of strength (Shakti), to her I bow down again and again.

2) She who resides in every being in the form of compassion (Daya), to her I bow down again and again.

3) She who resides in every being in the form of forgiveness (Kshanti), to her I bow down again and again.

4) She who resides in every being in the form of contentment (Tushti), to her I bow down again and again.

5) She who resides in every being in the form of faith (Shradha), to her I bow down again and again.

Durga Saptashati

Women's empowerment is empowering these qualities in us. Empowering the compassion, forgiveness, strength, contentment and faith in us. And doing it again and again. All of us can do this whether we are born in the garb of a male or female.

Another perspective on women's empowerment

One faculty which is more developed and active in a woman than men (in general) is that of FEELINGS. In the present day, we give a lot of emphasis to thinking but very little attention and importance to feelings. If we pay attention to feelings and honor them, we will automatically become sensitive to the feelings of other human beings and to that extent become a better person. Another definition for women’s empowerment is - empower and honor your FEELINGS and those of others.

Finally, in Indian thought tradition Shiva represents the static, immovable, unchangeable (unmanifest) and Shakti represents the dynamic, ever changing aspect of creation (manifest). Another way to interpret women’s empowerment is to empower (welcome) the dynamic ever-changing aspect of life as it unfolds. Being dynamic and always welcoming change is what the Divine Mother teaches us in her manifestation as the forces of nature.

PS. Originally published on October 4, 2016 on LinkedIn.