Reader, P.G. Department of Sociology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha
Empowerment is an idea of power. It is a multidimensional social process that helps people to gain control over their own lives. It is a process that fosters power in people for use in their own lives, communities and society by acting over issues they define as important. Empowerment of women is essentially the process of upliftment of economic, social and political status of women, the traditionally underprivileged ones in the society. It involves the building up of a society wherein women can breathe without the fear of oppression, exploitation, apprehension, discrimination and the general feeling of persecution which goes with being a woman in a traditionally male dominated society. It is the process of guarding Women face several obstacles to participating in political life. Structural barriers through discriminatory laws, capacity gaps and institutions still limit women‘s options to run for office. Capacity gaps mean women are less likely than men to have the education, contacts and resources needed to become effective leaders. As the 2011 UN General Assembly resolution on women‘s political participation notes, —Women in every part of the world continue to be largely marginalized from the political sphere, often as a result of discriminatory laws, practices, attitudes and gender stereotypes, low levels of education, lack of access to health care and the disproportionate effect of poverty on women.‖Individual women have overcome these obstacles with great acclaim, and often to the benefit of society at large. But for women as a whole, the playing field needs to be level, opening opportunities for all. When we talk about women empowerment, we are not concerned about their political participation.
