Lately, so much has been said about empowerment, but so little about what kind of expectations are behind it. Empowerment seems to have become the ultimate goal behind everyone's actions: we need to empower women, minorities, children, and of course, ourselves too. Inclusion is definitely a crucial topic that society has begun finally to address. However, empowerment seems the word of the moment, feeding hashtags, fueling debates, call-outs, and calls to action. Everything comes down to empowerment, from expressing sexual freedom and fighting against discrimination to the freedom to wear whatever you want. The flip side of it is that the expectations are higher, and society keeps putting layers on top of what it means to be an empowered person today. It's like a call to action that you are a retrograde if you ignore or don't engage with it. With so many expectations about people's empowerment, I wonder if empowerment isn't becoming imprisonment?
Looking for answers to this question, I began searching for insights into the Oxford dictionary. I found out that empowerment speaks to the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality. It's about the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. Basically, when we are able to do something, then we have power. But what happens when you are able to, but instead, choose not to do anything? Or, what if you have the will, but you find yourself unable to act due to circumstances beyond your control? Not accepted. You need to push further. You need to be brave.
So, should a housewife feel disempowered or be labeled conformist? What’s the appropriate age to reach financial independency before being a failure? Is being a bossgirl only a copy of a male stereotype? From the ability to do something to the capacity to direct or influence the behavior of others, why are we so obsessed with the idea of having power?
It seems today's culture constantly pushes people out of their comfort zone. Other times, it shames people for choosing to stay as they are. As if we don't have enough pressure and frustration to deal with in our daily lives. We often hear that we need to be brave and daring to be successful in anything we do. Myself, I always struggle with the idea that people need to be brave. Yes, we can decide to be bold against obstacles that challenges our survival or the ideals that we stand for as an individual and a community. However, the concept that we need to be constantly brave suggests that we are always under threat or live in an intrinsically hostile environment. Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware of the threats we face about the environment and freedom in the world today, to begin with. However, data suggests that this moment is literally the best time we could possibly be alive. This is the time with the most significant opportunities available to the greatest number of people, the safest and most peaceful time in history. But it seems we are programmed to think otherwise.
Still, the very foundation of our western white male dominant society establishes that to thrive, we have to fight for power. Fighting for being number one is essential to keep the engine that feeds our lifestyle. As a result, It looks like we are brainwashed to compete against each other, and our own sense of validation is closely tight to the idea of power.
I recently watched a video saying that our school system teaches us to be afraid and uncollaborative. It argues that schools offer only one possible correct answer to any problem and it doesn't encourage children to collaborate instead of winning or being supportive instead of competitive. Maybe it stems from the early times of our civilization when the human species had to fight against each other and nature to survive.
We came this far as a civilization and species. Still, society tells us that we need to be brave, beat the competition, fight against our enemies, and be empowered by doing so. However, one of the things that the pandemic made clear is that we are doomed as a species without collaboration. Yet, power and competition still trump it all.
Today, you first need to become a super being to live your own life without anyone bothering you. But, unfortunately, in our strive to become superbeings, we are just constantly giving power to society to tell who we should be.
Personally, I am exhausted from hearing those calls to action. After being bombarded by it all the time, I just want to be me at the end of the day. Seeking empowerment became a psychological prison that pushes people to be someone they haven't even chosen to be in the first place. Being ourselves is already such a hazardous endeavor that the ultimate power should be to decide not to do anything and just be. Then, just doing whatever feels right to you seems like a blissful release.
Oxford dictionary says that empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights. So if there's one power that enables people to claim their own rights, that is choice. Choice is freedom.