Female empowerment and its importance for the construction of society

This article will explore and reflect on the importance of female empowerment, highlighting its implications at an individual and collective level. From access to education to participation in decision-making, women's empowerment is essential to building a more just, equitable and prosperous world.

In the history of humanity it has been normalized for women to be treated as inferiors. Without delving too deeply into specific examples, one can observe the diminished role they have had to endure in various cultures and religions; they have not had spaces for representation, nor have they had their own voice in spaces as intimate as the family.

Mayans (2020) maintains that the chronicles tell of women who led armies such as Artemis of Caria, Rodoguna of Parthia, Boudica, Fu Hao, Zhao of Pingyang, Joan of Arc, others excelled in letters and medicine such as Hildegard of Bingen, Cristina de Pizán, Trotula de Ruggiero, Lubna de Córdoba in complicated times for women due to the prejudices and misogyny of the time, and those whose research contributed to the sciences such as Carolines Herschel, Ada Lovelace, Marie Curie, Lise Meitner, Rosalind Franklin, Margarita Salas, Elizabeth Blackburn and those who transcended physics, chemistry, art, etc., testifying that the stigmatization of classifying them as inferior was the meanness of not recognizing the capabilities, abilities, sagacity, talent and intelligence that women have. (National Geographic 2023).

Times have changed and these changes generate new scenarios where women are entering, demonstrating capacity and suitability even when things are not homogeneous due to deep-rooted machismo. The emergence of female leadership goes far beyond having some professional achievement or title or position, it seeks the empowerment of women. In this sense, for Batliwala (1997, p.4) “the concept of women's empowerment emerged as a result of many criticisms and important debates generated by the women's movement around the world and, particularly, by Third World feminists. ”.

Why is thinking or reflecting on female empowerment important?

Thinking about empowerment forces us to review the definition of the term “empower.” According to the RAE, “empower” refers to “granting power [to a socioeconomically disadvantaged group] so that, through self-management, they improve their living conditions.” That is, we start from an initiative that is capable of self-management to achieve spaces where the “social balance” can be balanced.

Given this small approach, it is important, then, to consider “female empowerment” as the set of actions that are developed by different groups, especially by organized women themselves, that allows them to fully develop in different areas of life; such as, for example, the social, economic, professional, personal, family space, etc.

That is to say, “feminine power” as such has not fully existed and has gone through several stages in the history of humanity, being the modern age (from 1789, the year of the French Revolution, to the present day) where it was clearly made visible. greater sharpness. In this sense, Pérez (2011) points out that, in the course of history, in various religious conceptions and various cultures, the role of women has always been placed on an inferior level, although, also in history, there are women outstanding ones that stood out and stand out in various areas of humanity.

For his part, the author Pineda (2004, p.4) proposes that women are in a situation of disparity compared to men because they have not received the same opportunities, so it is necessary to create spaces so that they can access full development in society. However, women have learned to be resilient in the face of the difference in opportunities to conquer more and more spaces in the social sphere.

It is clear that people, regardless of their origin and orientation, have diverse talents, skills and abilities, but not everyone has the same opportunities to develop them, especially women; However, they have almost always known how to take advantage of any scenario to demonstrate their capabilities. Thus, Singer et al., (2002) maintain that empowering women helps them promote their active social participation, allows them to experience effective development, emotional maturity, persistence, empathy, courage and self-confidence.

Then, as Batliwala (1997, p.4) points out, “the concept of women's empowerment emerged as a result of many important critiques and debates generated by the women's movement around the world and, particularly, by Third World feminists. ”.. That is why reflecting on strengthening the role of women is important, because it seeks to provide them with spaces that are significant and that contribute to their freedom at all levels. It is important that more women be an active part of the “empowerment process” in order to effectively and efficiently guide their efforts so that they can achieve the best way to develop in various social areas.

The implementation of policies that promote gender equality in everyday life and respect the differences of women in different situations and empowerment processes, and the same with diversity and diversity in society, is inevitable.

So, it can be said that female empowerment is defined as the process through which women acquire control over their own lives and reach a state of autonomy and self-determination. This process covers various aspects, including access to education, participation in the workforce, the exercise of political rights and decision-making at the family and community level. At its core, female empowerment is about removing structural and cultural barriers that limit women's potential and perpetuate gender inequality.

In this sense, it is important to consider that “female empowerment” is multidimensional; Therefore, I consider that the dimensions to reflect on are the following:

• Personal autonomy: Refers to the ability of women to make decisions about their own lives, both individually and collectively. This includes decisions related to education, career, reproductive health, and interpersonal relationships.
• Economic autonomy: It implies that women have access to economic resources and the ability to earn their own living. This not only means having paid employment, but also having the freedom to make economic and financial decisions without depending on third parties.
• Social and political participation: Refers to the ability of women to actively participate in the social and political life of their communities and countries. This includes participation in community organizations, social movements, political parties and public offices.
• Access to education and information: Access to education and information is fundamental to female empowerment, as it provides women with the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about their lives and participate fully in society.
• Control over one's own body and sexuality: Female empowerment also implies that women have the right and ability to make autonomous decisions about their body and sexuality, including reproductive health and access to contraceptives.

However, despite the advances in recent decades, women still face numerous barriers that limit them from achieving empowerment in all its dimensions. Some of these barriers include:

• Traditional gender norms and roles: Gender expectations embedded in societies can limit women's options and opportunities, relegating them to domestic roles and restricting their access to education, employment and political participation.
• Gender violence: Violence against women, whether physical, sexual or psychological, is one of the most serious forms of violation of human rights and an important barrier to female empowerment.
• Structural and systemic gaps: Structural inequalities in social, political and economic institutions can perpetuate the marginalization and exclusion of women, limiting their access to resources and opportunities.
• Lack of access to resources and services: Women in many parts of the world face difficulties in accessing basic resources such as education, health, clean water and sanitation, which limits their ability to achieve empowerment in all its dimensions.

Therefore, it is important that, in order to promote female empowerment, it is necessary to contrast various strategies against the structural and systemic barriers raised:

• Education and awareness: Promoting education and awareness about women's rights and gender inequalities is essential to changing social attitudes and norms that perpetuate discrimination and inequality.
• Policies and legislation: Implementing policies and legislation that promote gender equality and protect women's rights is essential to ensure an enabling environment for female empowerment.
• Economic strengthening: Promoting women's access to economic resources, including decent employment, microcredits and job training programs, is essential to guarantee their economic autonomy and empowerment.
• Political empowerment: Promoting the political participation of women and guaranteeing their representation in decision-making processes is essential to building more just and equitable societies.

Empowering women requires addressing structural and systemic barriers that limit women's options and opportunities, and promoting policies and practices that promote gender equality and respect for human rights. Only then can we build a world where all people, regardless of gender, have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

While there is significant progress in promoting female empowerment, numerous challenges still remain that hinder progress towards gender equality. It now sets out to explore some of the most important challenges women face in their quest for empowerment, as well as emerging opportunities that can drive progress towards gender equality.

Gender-based violence: Violence against women remains a widespread problem around the world, affecting women of all ages, social classes and cultural contexts. Domestic violence, sexual harassment, human trafficking and other types of gender-based violence continue to be significant obstacles to female empowerment.

Gender pay gap: Despite efforts to close the pay gap between men and women, significant pay inequality still persists in many countries and sectors. Women continue to earn less than men for the same work, which limits their economic autonomy and their ability to achieve economic empowerment.

Inequality in the distribution of domestic and care work: Globally, women continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic and care work, limiting their participation in the paid workforce and restricting their access to education and care opportunities. professional development.

On the other hand, it is also important to review the opportunities that exist in the contemporary world so that female empowerment can be fully developed:

Advances in technology: Technology is playing an increasingly important role in promoting female empowerment, offering online education opportunities, access to financial resources and job training, as well as platforms for activism and advocacy for women's rights. women.

Alliances and solidarity among women: The growing solidarity and collaboration between women from different countries, cultures and social contexts is generating significant momentum in the fight for gender equality. Alliances between women offer a space for knowledge exchange, mutual support and collective action for social change.

Recognition of the value of care work: There is increasing recognition of the value of unpaid care work performed by women, as well as the need to equitably redistribute this workload between men and women. This recognition is leading to the implementation of policies and programs that support women in their role as caregivers and promote greater participation by men in care work.

Following the line of opportunities, it is also important for the States to take actions to balance the balance of opportunities and contribute to female empowerment. In this sense, it is proposed:

Implementation of gender equality policies: It is essential to implement policies and programs that directly address the challenges that women face in their search for empowerment, including gender violence, the wage gap and inequality in the distribution of domestic and care work.

Promotion of education and training: Investing in the education and training of women is a key strategy to promote their economic and social empowerment. This includes not only formal education, but also job skills training and the development of entrepreneurial capabilities.

Promoting female leadership: Promoting female leadership in all areas of society, including politics, business, science and technology, is essential to ensure equal representation and inclusive decision-making.

It is clear that female empowerment must resolve a number of significant challenges, including gender violence, the wage gap and inequality in the distribution of domestic and care work. However, there are also emerging opportunities, such as advances in technology, solidarity between women and recognition of the value of care work. Overcoming the challenges and seizing these opportunities will require a concerted effort at a global level, with policies and programs that directly address the structural and systemic barriers that limit women's empowerment and promote a more just, equitable and prosperous society for all people, regardless of their gender.

It should be kept in mind that female empowerment not only benefits individual women, but also has a positive impact on society as a whole. That is, the empowerment of women contributes to social, economic and political development, as well as the promotion of gender equality and general well-being.

Female empowerment is closely related to the socioeconomic development of a society:

Economic growth: Women's full and equal participation in the workforce contributes to economic growth by increasing productivity and innovation, as well as expanding the labor market and consumption.

Poverty reduction: When women have access to decent, well-paid jobs, they are able to provide a livelihood for themselves and their families, contributing to poverty reduction at the individual and community levels.

Human development: Women's empowerment is associated with significant improvements in human development, including access to education, health, nutrition and other basic services, both for women themselves and their families.

Likewise, the political empowerment of women also has a positive impact on society:

Equal representation: Women's participation in political life and decision-making ensures more equitable representation of the interests and concerns of the general population, strengthening the legitimacy and effectiveness of democratic institutions.

Inclusive governance: Women bring unique perspectives and diverse experiences to politics, which can lead to the adoption of more inclusive and effective policies that address a variety of social and economic issues.

Promotion of human rights: Women politicians are often defenders of human rights, gender equality and social justice, which contributes to the strengthening of democratic values ​​and the promotion of a more just and equitable society.

However, female empowerment also drives cultural and social change:

Transforming gender norms: The active participation of women in public life challenges traditional gender norms and promotes greater gender equality in all aspects of social, economic and political life.

Promoting social justice: Women's empowerment is intrinsically linked to the fight for social justice and the elimination of gender-based discrimination and oppression, which benefits the entire society by promoting equality and human dignity .

Promoting solidarity and cooperation: Solidarity and cooperation between women from different contexts and experiences strengthen feminist and human rights movements, promoting positive and sustainable social change.

Female empowerment has a significant impact on society as a whole, contributing to socioeconomic development, political and democratic participation, cultural and social change, and the promotion of gender equality and social justice. By recognizing and supporting women's empowerment, we can build a more just, equitable and prosperous society for all people, regardless of gender.

Thus, it must be understood that empowerment is not limited to access to material resources, but also encompasses aspects such as personal, economic, social and political autonomy, as well as control over one's own body and sexuality. Recognizing and promoting these various dimensions of female empowerment is essential to building a more just and equal society.

Education provides women with the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about their lives and participate fully in society. However, there are still barriers that limit women's access to education, such as gender norms, poverty and violence. It is essential to implement strategies that promote women's access and participation in education to guarantee their empowerment.

Women's access to decent, well-paid jobs not only contributes to their economic autonomy, but also promotes economic growth, reduces poverty and fosters human development. However, barriers still persist, such as the gender pay gap and occupational segregation, that limit women's economic empowerment. It is essential to implement policies and programs that address these barriers and promote gender equality in the economic sphere.

Women's participation in political life and decision-making contributes to more equitable representation, strengthens democratic legitimacy and promotes the adoption of more inclusive and effective policies. However, women still face barriers, such as gender-based violence and lack of financing, that limit their political participation. It is crucial to implement strategies that promote the political empowerment of women and guarantee their full participation in political and democratic life.

Although significant challenges remain, such as gender violence and the pay gap, there are also emerging opportunities, such as advances in technology and solidarity between women, that can drive progress towards gender equality. Overcoming the challenges and seizing these opportunities will require a concerted effort at a global level, with policies and programs that directly address the structural and systemic barriers that limit women's empowerment.

Women's empowerment not only benefits individual women, but also has a positive impact on socio-economic development, political and democratic participation, cultural and social change, and the promotion of gender equality and social justice. By recognizing and supporting women's empowerment, we can build a more just, equitable and prosperous society for all people, regardless of gender.