why might the phrase 'empowerment of women' be less 'politically

Kritiq I am sure that is true. The word as it stands should just mean what it says on the tin - gaining more power - accessing more power - but in modern language it seems to usually be all about a person (usually female) doing something patriarchy-pleasing (losing weight, having a makeover) and how fabulous (empowered) this had made her feel. That's what I take from the word anyway. It's a daytime TV, self help and Oprah sort of a word.

The current context seems to be that a person is empowered by someone else e.g. management empowers front line workers to do x, y, z or politicians loosen red tape to empower small businesses to x, y, z. It's a bestowing of "power". I guess it's a liberation of sorts.

Better opportunities? Access to resources?
Not sure what it's supposed to convey in the given context ...

Yes I think when feminism became corporatised, useful words like liberation fell into disrepute, and more unthreatening apolitical words like empowerment were popularised.

But yes, it is very old-fashioned and out of date now.

While I don't share this loathing for the word empowerment (but do loathe nothing-doers' appropriation of words for good concepts!) I see why you want to change it.

Is it not possible to simply say what the point actually means? Improvements for women? Summat like that?

I think you are right Kritiq. There's no reason empowerment shouldn't talk about proper power ('women are empowered to set up small businesses by having loans available', 'women are empowered to choose the government by having the vote') but the recent appropriation of the word means that that kind of thing is no longer what springs to mind.

'Just an observation, but I think the word "empowerment" means something different now than it did say 25 or 30 years ago. When I first came to the UK, there were many feminist organisations that used the word in the context of their mission. From what I recall in the 80's, it had the same meaning as emancipation or liberation.'

Yes, it did as far as my experiences then went.

Just an observation, but I think the word "empowerment" means something different now than it did say 25 or 30 years ago. When I first came to the UK, there were many feminist organisations that used the word in the context of their mission. From what I recall in the 80's, it had the same meaning as emancipation or liberation. But, I think the former was regarded as connected to slavery and civil rights and feminists didn't want to be seen as detracting from that struggle. I think "liberation" had fallen out of fashion and was seen as a bit old hat and hippy.

When I was involved in anti-porn stuff 20 years back, the pro-porn advocates were mainly pushing the line that porn was just harmless fun and normal sexual expression. I don't think they'd yet cottoned on to the idea of appropriating the term "empowerment" to "sell" porn not just as benign but actually something positive/life-affirming/aspirational (or all the other crap they peddle about it these days.) Maybe it's because "mainstream" porn has become so much more accessible, hard core, violent, degrading and undeniably misogynist that it's impossible to convince anyone it's "just innocent fun." They have to peddle the line that it's okay because women WANT to do it and they get POSITIVE things from their CHOICE to be in/consume porn. (Bleeeurrrgh!)

I suppose for me "empowerment" is a word used in relation to individuals - a person did X and it empowered them so they could do Z - kind of thing. So it doesn't fit right when looking at entire groups of people across whole populations etc.

I think your colleague would be better off sticking to factual terms eg the results show, as per the extract. Rather than using words which are more usually used to describe how individuals are feeling IYSWIM.

Women not dying in childbirth isn't about them feeling empowered, it's about lots of other things. Being concerned with how people feel is only really affordable once the everyday risk of death for them, their families and children has been combated. Women who have been taught to read and have subsequently not died in childbirth shouldn't feel "empowered" - they should feel normal. That is how it should be.

I do think that use of empowerment and its derivatives is not focusing on the structural reasons why women don't have meaningful power. (and yes, I am biased by its use in a "Getting your tits out for the lads is empowerfulising" context). Are the words used regularly for men, such as schemes for homeless men or those with low literacy levels? Genuine question.

In the abstract it says

"Results: The Human Development Index and Gender Development
Index are powerful predictors of both maternal and infant mortality
rates. Female literacy rate and combined enrolment in educational
programs are moderate predictors of maternal mortality rates"

That is really interesting although not surprising, I am glad research is being done in this area.

I don't think "empowerment" is the right word to use regarding these things, there are much more obvious an neutral words to use!

I haven't seen your collegaue's speech so I won't disect it though!!!

Liberation or emancipation leads to a "from what?" question. That's a dangerous road, you know.

That's interesting.

Is it literacy in itself that causes the reduction, or the circumstances surrounding literacy? ie women being valued enough to be taught to read and write, countries having enough money to teach everyone, that sort of thing?

Empowerment is the consolation prize for women, because men aren't going to hand over the power they've stolen from us.

So along the lines of improved adult literacy has empowered women to be able to better access and understand information and advice resulting in decreased maternal mortality...?

Why not just say the improved literacy has resulted in. That's not loaded at all.

Twisty Faster on empowerfulment