Empowerment is defined as the authority or power given to someone to do something. Or the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights. When I looked up an example of usage it said, “political steps for the empowerment of women.” No surprises at all there. Empowerment is like alms when it comes to women.
Amidst the chest thumping of wise men that women empowerment is key to a better society, I wonder why should women be empowered in the first place. And who are they to empower women? Are women prisoners of some sort? Or is it the same as saying “I empowered my husband to bring vegetables to cook today.” Or is it some chana-batana that the society is giving out calling empowerment. Do they empower a child? Because kids say the darndest thing and get away with it. But holy crap, a woman says the exact same thing and is ostracized, beaten and killed. So, what empowerment are these people taling about anyway.
I know it is all good intentions and heart when people congratulate women on their successes and tag it as women empowerment. Is it because men let women win or succeed and they are not worthy of their successes. What is the hidden meaning here? How about just leaving women alone, without imposing so many goddamn restrictions and let them show the world how ridiculously amazing they are. But no, that is not how it is done. We tighten the reins to show women a place, like beneath the feet or between the legs (I am actually quoting a former friend) and then cry how behind the society is because women are not empowered. If nothing works we shoot them in their head and give them Nobel prizes. The aplomb of empowerment begins like for the gazillionth time each and every time.
Why can’t women be considered the same as men barring inches here and there. Women get violated because they show skin but heck, I am worried about the good looking men who are ogled by women. I believe, we should absolutely empower men to cover their body, face and ensure that their pricest posesssions are in some kind of contraptions under women supervision. When women are the creators and keepers of this world, it is time we talk about empowering men to safeguard their chemical messages. Forgive me, but that makes perfect sense to me; not the other way around. And ladies for God’s sake stop saying women empowement. It feels like you are begging for something that is already yours.
QUOTIDIAN BLESSING 