Equipping women with tools for empowerment
EMPOWERMENT is one of the most talked about buzzwords of our generation. As a leader in the skills development sector, I have analysed it, lived with it and shared it with others.
As our country marks the end of August as Women’s Month under the theme “The year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: realising women’s rights”, we have again been reminded that empowerment is about equitable access to the tools of economic development, the distribution of power and influence.
It is poignant that we celebrate Maxeke’s legacy during these trying times. History books describe her legacy as one of the most important turning points for the pursuit of women's rights in South Africa, as she inspired not only women, but also generations of male leaders to aspire to education and self-reliance.
In one of the few speeches she was allowed to make at a conference, as quoted by her biographer, Zubeida Jaffer, Maxeke remarked: “We want men who are the salvation of the young girls of their nation, who can depend on their presence; we need men who will humble themselves, so that the nation may lift them up to be the stars of Africa for future generations. That is what Africa wants. That is what the women of Africa are weeping and praying for.”
In recent years women empowerment has become a subject of great
debate for us as a nation. Empowerment as a concept was introduced at one of the first women’s conference in Nairobi in 1985, almost 50 years after Maxeke’s death.
The International Women’s Conference defined empowerment as “A redistribution of social power and control of resources in favour of women. Empowerment is a multi-faceted process which encompasses many aspects, such as enhancing awareness, increasing access to resources of economic, social and political and others.” So based on this definition, what are women’s tools for self-empowerment?
Here are the five tools I leverage every day: assertiveness; decision-making power; granting myself options to make the choice of saying “yes” or “no”; understanding that I have rights and self-initiated growth. I believe that these characteristics and tools are necessary for one to become empowered.
Being assertive is being able to engage in a discussion or debate in an honest and respectful way without being arrogant or aggressive or feeling guilty. I respect and love women who are assertive, just as Maxeke was.
As women we should not be afraid to speak; while we speak with humility and honesty, as women we should not be afraid to be genuinely confident.
Every day one is called on to make decisions. It is human to often suffer from decision paralysis. It is understandable when you want to be sure to get it right. But for me, a decision is better than no decision at all.
You have to move past fear and doubt, irrespective of your circumstances. You can start taking control of your life’s outcomes, something which is self-empowering.
It is in our nature to want options. The consequences of saying “yes” or “no” can be unclear and without thoughtfulness, our decisions can lead to regret, frustration, confusion, resentment, and even diminished confidence. I frankly understand that a “no” without thoughtful consideration can see you miss out on extraordinary opportunities for growth, fulfilment, and advancement. Trust yourself; you will find a way to manage it when you have decided to say “yes”.
Every woman has a right to live, work and prosper. We acquired these rights when we were born. These are called human rights because every person has them. These are legal rights backed by the law and enshrined in our Constitution. It is important for every one of us women to know our rights so that if people try to take them away, we can stop them.
Close to these rights are our responsibilities. These responsibilities are the things others expect us to do. Responsible people know what their rights are and respect the rights of others. Being responsible means we care about other people. So let us know our rights and responsibilities.
Every person should has an opportunity to develop to one’s full potential. Personal growth is part of every woman’s success and happiness.
Every successful woman I know has placed a great deal of importance on continuous personal growth and development. Yet even at the peak of their careers, they still find time from the busy schedules to push themselves to achieve more.