<<–2/”>a >p class=”cs916C1C7B”>In societal development, conception of empowerment has vital role. This phrase is linked with Equality/”>Gender Equality. Modernization of global development will need a reappraisal of the concept and its application to many facets of human life. The notion of empowerment entails numerous things to many people. Concepts of choice, Liberty, agency, capacity, contribution, self-sufficiency, and increased Resources are common to almost all definitions. Most of the researchers agreed on the idea of empowerment as ways to improve Quality Of Life and expand the basis of human well-being. Briefly, empowerment can serve as a tool for effecting deep and broad-based social revolution.
In social science literature, it is documented that the process of Social Change can be discovered at the personal and structural levels. At one end, social change is visualized as a consequence of the development of individuals, gained through Education, training, access to material resources, and the like. From this perspective, structural change is supposed to be an automatic result of personal alteration. On the other end, the human being is seen as a part of Society, and change is considered impossible unless social structures related to political power are changed primarily. Individual and structural transformation are closely associated with the individual’s inner life shapes, social Environment, and that environment, in turn, exerts a deep influence on one’s mystical and psychological well-being. The symbol of the body politic, likening all of humanity to a single social organism gives a valuable framework to discover empowerment as means to follow the transformation of individuals and civilization. Empowerment depends on and contributes to a system in which different actors are provided the resources needed for each to make a unique contribution to the whole. From this conception, it can be established that individual and collective empowerment can be considered as the extension of vision, capacity, and choice necessary for people to act as active agents of human well-being and affluence.
The Protagonists of Social Transformation: It suggests that there are three Elements critically important such as the individual, the institutions of society, and the community. In this view empowerment is described as the act assisting individuals to manifest constructive capacities in creative and disciplined ways, institutions to exercise authority in a manner that leads to the progress and upliftment of people and communities to provide an environment in which culture is improved and individual wills and capacities combine in collective action. Ideas of “us” and “them” deserve particular consideration. Discourse in development spheres is often entrenched in conceptions of the “empowered” members of society that help the “disadvantaged” or “downgraded group.” Many researchers revealed that the desire to eliminate social inequalities is indisputably moral feeling, but us/them dichotomies only extend and reinforce existing divisions. Careful thought needs must be given in which empowerment can be approached as a universal and shared enterprise. It has been observed that Historical processes have developed inequalities that must be addressed. But the development basis should be one in which every individual and group is presumed to have scope for progression. From this viewpoint, the marginalized are not without capacity, and the privileged are not all strong. All have capacity to develop and all have a responsibility to advance the welfare of the whole. Lastly, though empowerment signifies someone or something being invested with authority, the social dynamics of power seem to have been generally overlooked in debates on development at the United Nations.
Prerequisites for Social Transformation:
Scholars stated that participation in the systems and structures of society is important prerequisite for social transformation. It is not sufficient for people to get projects, even if they have a voice in certain decisions. They must actively involve in decision-making processes: identify problems, formulate solutions and approaches, enjoy benefits, and determine criteria for appraisal.
At last, the ability to recognise the root causes of inequality will be decisive to the empowerment of populations to become agents of social transformation. Though Population gets benefits of advancement, if it is unable to discriminate the drivers of social injustice and inequity, they cannot eliminate such practices from social structure. If empowerment is to lead to social transformation, it must involve the ability to identify the forces that modernize one’s social reality, to recognise the opportunities and challenges offered by that reality, and to plan initiatives for the improvement of civilization.
Women’s economic empowerment refers to the ability for women to enjoy their right to control and benefit from resources, assets, income and their own time, as well as the ability to manage risk and improve their economic status and well being.
The GDI measures gender gaps in Human Development achievements by accounting for disparities between women and men in three basic dimensions of human development—Health, knowledge and living standards using the same component indicators as in the HDI. The GDI is the ratio of the HDIs calculated separately for females and males using the same methodology as in the HDI. It is a direct measure of gender gap showing the female HDI as a Percentage of the male HDI.
Gender equality has following dimentions:-
- Equal access to basic social Services, including education and health.
- Equal opportunities for participation in political and economic decision-making.
- Equal reward for equal work.
- Equal protection under the law.
- Elimination of discrimination by gender and violence against women.
- Equal rights of citizens in all areas of life, both public – such as the workplace – and private such as the home.
Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) seeks to measure relative female representation in economic and political power. It considers gender gaps in political representation, in professional and management positions in the economy, as well as gender gaps in incomes .GEM is a measure of inequalities between men’s and women’s opportunities in a country. It gives indicators to explain ways in which the inequalities are associated with three components of development: education, EMPLOYMENT and political participation. The concept of empowerment can be explored through three interrelated dimensions: agency, resources and achievements .
Detailed analysis of the dimensions of GEM are:-
GEM Dimension 1: ‘Political Participation and Decision-making Power’ Indicators: i) % Share of Parliamentary Seats (elected); ii) % Share of Seats in Legislature (elected); iii) % Share of Seats in Zilla Parishads (elected); iv) % Share of Seats in Gram Panchayats (elected); v) % Candidates in Electoral Process in National Parties in the Parliamentary election and vi) % Electors Exercising the Right to Vote in the Parliamentary election.
GEM Dimension 2: ‘Economic Participation and Decision-making Power’ Indicators: i) % Share of officials in service in Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service; and ii) % Share of enrolment in medical and engineering colleges.
GEM Dimension 3: ‘Power over Economic Resources’ Indicators: i) % Female/Male with Operational Land Holdings; ii) % Females/Males with Bank Accounts in Scheduled Commercial Banks (with credit limit above Rs. 2 lakh); iii) Share of Female/Male Estimated Earned Income Share per capita per annum.,
Empowerment is the process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes. It is a process that can be used to improve the lives of individuals and communities in a variety of ways.
There are many different ways to empower individuals and groups. Some common methods include:
- Capacity building: This involves providing individuals or groups with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to make choices and take action. This can be done through training, education, and access to resources.
- Participation: This involves giving individuals or groups a voice in decision-making processes. This can be done through consultation, advocacy, and community organizing.
- Support: This involves providing individuals or groups with the emotional and financial support they need to make choices and take action. This can be done through counseling, financial assistance, and other forms of support.
Empowerment can have a number of positive benefits for individuals and communities. Some of these benefits include:
- Increased self-efficacy: This is the belief in one’s ability to succeed in a particular task or situation. Empowerment can help individuals to develop a stronger sense of self-efficacy, which can lead to increased motivation and achievement.
- Increased self-esteem: This is the sense of one’s own worth or value. Empowerment can help individuals to develop a stronger sense of self-esteem, which can lead to increased confidence and well-being.
- Increased self-determination: This is the ability to make one’s own choices and to control one’s own life. Empowerment can help individuals to develop a stronger sense of self-determination, which can lead to increased autonomy and independence.
- Increased participation: This is the act of taking part in an activity or event. Empowerment can help individuals to become more involved in their communities and to have a greater voice in decision-making.
- Increased social cohesion: This is the feeling of connection and belonging to a group or community. Empowerment can help individuals to feel more connected to their communities and to develop a stronger sense of social identity.
- Increased community capacity: This is the ability of a community to address its own problems and to improve its own conditions. Empowerment can help communities to develop the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to address their own needs.
Empowerment is a powerful tool that can be used to improve the lives of individuals and communities. It is a process that can be used to increase self-efficacy, self-esteem, self-determination, participation, social cohesion, and community capacity. Empowerment is a key component of Sustainable Development and can help to create a more just and equitable world.
There are a number of challenges to empowerment. Some of these challenges include:
- Power imbalances: Empowerment can be difficult to achieve in situations where there are power imbalances between individuals or groups. For example, it can be difficult to empower women in societies where they are discriminated against.
- Lack of resources: Empowerment can also be difficult to achieve in situations where there are limited resources available. For example, it can be difficult to empower communities in developing countries that lack access to basic resources such as education and healthcare.
- Lack of support: Empowerment can also be difficult to achieve in situations where there is a lack of support from key stakeholders. For example, it can be difficult to empower communities if there is no political will to do so.
Despite these challenges, empowerment is a critical goal that should be pursued by individuals, communities, and organizations around the world. Empowerment can help to create a more just and equitable world where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
What is a chatbot?
A chatbot is a computer program that simulates human conversation. Chatbots are often used in customer service applications, where they can answer questions and provide support to customers.
What are the benefits of using a chatbot?
Chatbots can provide 24/7 customer support, which can be helpful for businesses that operate around the clock. Chatbots can also help businesses save Money on customer service costs.
What are the challenges of using a chatbot?
Chatbots can be difficult to create and maintain. They also require training data, which can be expensive to collect.
What is the future of chatbots?
Chatbots are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and they are being used in a variety of applications beyond customer service. Chatbots are likely to play a major role in the future of Artificial Intelligence.
What is a search engine?
A search engine is a website that helps users find information on the Internet. Search engines work by crawling the web and indexing websites. When a user searches for something, the search engine returns a list of websites that match the search terms.
What are the benefits of using a search engine?
Search engines can help users find information quickly and easily. They can also help users find information that they would not have found otherwise.
What are the challenges of using a search engine?
Search engines can be biased, and they can return results that are not relevant to the user’s search terms. Search engines can also be used to spread misinformation.
What is the future of search engines?
Search engines are constantly evolving, and they are becoming more sophisticated. They are also becoming more personalized, and they are able to provide users with more relevant results.
What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that deals with the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously. AI research has been highly successful in developing effective techniques for solving a wide range of problems, from game playing to medical diagnosis.
What are the benefits of artificial intelligence?
AI has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, from the way we work to the way we interact with the world around us. AI can be used to improve efficiency, automate tasks, and make better decisions.
What are the challenges of artificial intelligence?
AI also raises a number of ethical concerns, such as the potential for job displacement and the misuse of AI for malicious purposes. It is important to develop AI in a responsible and ethical way.
What is the future of artificial intelligence?
AI is a rapidly developing field, and it is difficult to predict what the future holds. However, it is clear that AI has the potential to have a profound impact on our lives. It is important to be aware of the potential benefits and challenges of AI so that we can make informed decisions about its use.
Question 1
Which of the following is not a type of power?
(A) Reward power
(B) Coercive power
(C) Legitimate power
(D) Referent power
(E) Empowerment power
Answer
(E) Empowerment power is not a type of power. The other four Options are all types of power.
Question 2
Which of the following is not a way to increase employee empowerment?
(A) Decentralize decision-making
(B) Provide employees with Training and Development opportunities
(C) Give employees more autonomy and control over their work
(D) Create a culture of trust and respect
(E) Empower employees to make decisions without consulting management
Answer
(E) Empowering employees to make decisions without consulting management is not a way to increase employee empowerment. The other four options are all ways to increase employee empowerment.
Question 3
Which of the following is not a benefit of employee empowerment?
(A) Increased employee satisfaction
(B) Increased employee productivity
(C) Increased employee innovation
(D) Reduced employee turnover
(E) Increased employee Stress
Answer
(E) Increased employee stress is not a benefit of employee empowerment. The other four options are all benefits of employee empowerment.
Question 4
Which of the following is not a challenge of employee empowerment?
(A) Employees may not be ready for empowerment
(B) Managers may not be ready to empower employees
(C) Empowerment can lead to conflict
(D) Empowerment can lead to chaos
(E) Empowerment can lead to a loss of control
Answer
(E) Empowerment does not lead to a loss of control. The other four options are all challenges of employee empowerment.
Question 5
Which of the following is not a way to overcome the challenges of employee empowerment?
(A) Provide employees with training and development opportunities
(B) Create a culture of trust and respect
(C) Communicate effectively with employees
(D) Provide employees with the resources they need
(E) Monitor the progress of empowerment and make adjustments as needed
Answer
(A) Providing employees with training and development opportunities is not a way to overcome the challenges of employee empowerment. The other four options are all ways to overcome the challenges of employee empowerment.