To give someone the power, confidence, or authority to do something. It can involve practical tools, legal rights, or emotional support that helps them act more freely.
From 'em-' (a variant of 'en-,' meaning 'to make, to put into') + 'power.' It originally meant to give legal power or authority. Over time, it broadened to include emotional and social strength.
To 'empower' someone is not just to hand them power, but to put them in a position where their own power can actually work. That’s why empowerment can be a law, a skill, or even a supportive conversation. The word suggests that power isn’t only owned; it’s also shared and activated.
The verb “empower” became central in feminist and civil rights discourse in the late 20th century, describing efforts to redistribute social, economic, and political power. It is often used in contexts of women’s rights, labor organizing, and anti‑colonial movements, where women and marginalized genders did much of the conceptual and practical work.
Use with specificity about who is gaining power and how, rather than as a vague slogan. Avoid implying that marginalized people lack inherent agency and instead focus on removing structural barriers and sharing decision‑making power.
["support","resource","share power with","amplify","back","stand with"]
Women, especially women of color, have been central in theorizing and practicing empowerment in community organizing, worker movements, reproductive rights, and anti‑violence campaigns; naming their leadership counters a tendency to credit only institutions or male figures.
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