Empowerment: A casual conversation with friends

I asked two of my friends, Alia and Emily, what empowerment meant to them.

Alia talked about knowledge, getting an 'A' in school and contributing to discussions.

My friend Emily Wilde had this to say:

"Empowerment is as foreign to me as wealth is. At the end of the day I still have to abide by what the men want and pay $3.00 per gallon to put gas in my car...What do the men want? To ignore what they do not want to see. (the men who run my company)"

She was talking about how she doesn't feel empowered. At least a when she is at her job.

She wants to start her own movement. She remembers the Riot Grrl movement in the 1990's. Emily wants to get out from under the "stiff rug of masculinity" and have a voice.

Having this conversation with two women I adore opened my eyes to their frustrations and desires.

Here is a definition of empower from answers.com:

em·pow·er (ĕm-pou'ər) pronunciation
tr.v., -ered, -er·ing, -ers.

1. To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority. See synonyms at authorize.


2. To equip or supply with an ability; enable: “Computers … empower students to become intellectual explorers” (Edward B. Fiske).