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

[MightyNice]

. . . charged' than, say, the emancipation or liberation of women?

context is a (valedictorian I suppose) speech for new masters of public health

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!)

'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.

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.

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?

But yes, it is very old-fashioned and out of date now.

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

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

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.

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.