Feeling strong, confident, and in control of one's circumstances and choices. Having a sense of personal agency and the ability to influence outcomes in one's life.
From Old French povoir meaning 'to be able,' with the prefix 'em-' meaning 'to cause to be.' The modern psychological meaning emerged in the 1960s civil rights movement, describing the process of gaining power and control over one's life circumstances.
Empowerment is fundamentally about locus of control - the belief that our actions matter and can create change. People who feel empowered show greater resilience to depression and anxiety because they maintain hope that their situation can improve through their own efforts rather than feeling helplessly victimized by circumstances.
Empowerment discourse rose in 1990s feminist and development contexts, where it became synonymous with women's agency. The term now risks tokenization—corporate use of 'empowered women' in marketing without structural change. Overuse can obscure material inequality.
Pair with concrete outcomes: skills, resources, decision-making authority, compensation. Avoid standalone 'empowered' language that signals intent without evidence of material change.
["autonomous","resourced","authorized","decision-making power","economic agency"]
The concept emerged from feminist organizing and development work by women in Global South; honor its origins in material struggle, not marketing.
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