Politics of empowerment
Reclaiming authentic female empowerment beyond male-defined narratives.
In recent decades, the discourse surrounding women’s empowerment has gained significant momentum. However, a critical examination reveals that many of these narratives are constructed through a male-centric lens, often reinforcing the patriarchy rather than genuinely uplifting women. This approach tends to confine empowerment to traditionally male-dominated arenas, such as the workforce, while neglecting the holistic aspects of a woman’s life, including familial, personal, and spiritual growth.
The male-centric paradigm of empowerment emphasizes women’s integration into sectors historically dominated by men. While increasing female representation in fields like engineering, technology, and finance is essential, it often comes with the expectation that women must conform to existing male norms. This can lead to scenarios where women are present in the workplace but remain undervalued and underpaid, their roles reduced to displays of inclusivity. Initiatives promoting women’s participation in sports or physical activities frequently overlook the inherent physiological differences between genders. This oversight results in unrealistic standards and pressures, setting women up for failure rather than fostering genuine empowerment.
But what is genuine empowerment? The essence of authentic empowerment should encompass all facets of a woman’s existence. It involves creating environments where women feel valued not only professionally but also within their families and personal development journeys. Recognizing and honoring the unique strengths and perspectives that women bring to various spheres of life is crucial.
Historically, several societies have embraced models that prioritize women’s roles beyond mere workforce participation. For instance, the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia, practice a form of matriarchy where property and wealth are inherited through the female line. Unlike traditional Western practices, in Minangkabau society, women hold significant authority in family and community decisions, illustrating a system where female empowerment is deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric.
Similarly, the Iroquois Confederacy in North America operated under a constitution that granted women substantial political and economic influence. Women participated actively in decision-making processes, including matters of war and peace, highlighting a societal structure that genuinely valued and empowered women. Prior to colonization, Iroquois women exercised legislative authority through electing officials, holding them accountable, and making sure they were meeting the needs of the community. And as a matrilineal society that granted them economic independence, these women could choose when to have children and who to have them with. But if an Iroquois woman chose not have children, she could still sustain “life” by tending to the land, which nourished her community.
In matriarchies, ideas of womanhood are not a binary, or an either-this-or-that game that’s impossible to win. A woman had the choice to express her womanhood in whatever way served her practical and emotional circumstances, and whatever choice she made, she was not judged through a male-centric criteria that fundamentally labelled her as “inferior.” A woman could be a mother, a politician, an agriculturalist, a teacher, a leader, or a storyteller. Womanhood was not a cape you donned, but it was part of your very skin.
In my opinion, the third wave of Western feminism that emerged in the 90s has often equated empowerment with adopting traditionally masculine traits, or plainly, mimicking masculinity. This perspective suggests that for women to assert their worth, they must emulate male behaviors, such as assertiveness, dominance, and a rationality that borders on a lack of empathy. However, this approach inadvertently reinforces the notion that male attributes are the benchmark for success and value.
By encouraging women to mirror men, society undermines the intrinsic power of femininity. True empowerment should celebrate and elevate qualities traditionally associated with women, such as empathy, collaboration, and nurturing. These attributes are not weaknesses but strengths that can lead to more harmonious and effective communications and workplaces, as evidenced by matriarchal societies.
The Mosuo people of southwest China, for example, are often cited as a matriarchal society where women control household finances and inheritance. In this culture, women are central to social and economic structures, and their authority is both recognized and respected.
Empowerment, in these contexts, is not about women adopting male characteristics but about embracing and valuing the strengths inherent in femininity.
Today, girlboss trends that encourage women to be self-made hyperconfident careerists and the rise of online sexual content creators, for example, have consolidated the illusion that women are truly empowered. This illusion then gets fed to us through mass-reproduced slogans, aesthetics, and ultimately disempowered advice on how to be an “empowered woman.” On the surface, women exercise sexual freedom, autonomy, and who has access to them. But let’s not fool ourselves into thinking the world we perform in as women is not still a world defined by men, for men. Ultimately, the contradiction of superficial displays of feminism that our culture taps into is this: “to be a more worthy, successful, and confident woman, I must be like a man.”
It is imperative to move beyond male-defined narratives. This involves valuing diverse contributions by recognizing that men and women bring unique strengths to various domains. It involves the curation of holistic support systems through creating policies and cultural norms that support women in all areas of life, including family, personal growth and professional development.
In turn, it is also essential to actively dismantle societal biases that devalue feminine traits. Education and awareness can play a pivotal role in reshaping perceptions and promoting true gender equality. And, as this article tries to show, we must learn from diverse cultures in which women are currently thriving and integrate the practices of societies that have successfully empowered women without relying on male paradigms.
