Empower: To equip or supply with an ability; enable
Equality between men and women exists when both sexes are able to share equally in the distribution of power and influence; have equal opportunities for financial independence through work or through setting up businesses; enjoy equal access to education and the opportunity to develop personal ambitions.
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| This little girl makes all decisions relating to her health and well being. |
Today women must empower themselves so that tomorrow we may empower our children. We must open our eyes to the injustices of the world and correct them. I hear people all the time making comments about how they don't want to be political. If you think you have a choice you are only lying to yourself. Inaction allows small problems to get bigger and sooner or later they will land on your doorstep.
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| This little girl loves to write and is not afraid to voice her opinion. |
Empowerment is taking complete control of your life: health, emotional and physical well being, ownership of property, economically/financially, politically, etc.
When you do not take action you become an enabler and the bottom line is, if you do not make your own choices there are politicians out there ready and waiting to make those decisions for you.
There are no reasons why you can not accomplish your passions. It's a matter of finding the resources to enable you to empower yourself.
Step 1 in empowering yourself: Education
There are many free resources online and at your local libraries which you can access. Librarians love when clients come to them for information. They are very well equipped to point you in the right direction and local resources you might never find out about.
Step 2: Join Groups
TV and media have done a great job of creating the false illusion that women are supposed to be perfect creatures with unlimited capabilities who can do everything on their own. False, we are human beings capable of great things who become even more powerful when we join forces.
Groups are a great collective of give and take. For many, they are a comfortable way of sharing information. The types of groups you join should be based on your specific interests. Some examples: career oriented, self improvement, cultural, political, entrepreneurial, etc.
Here are a variety of links to serve as an example of the diversity of women's groups available to you: The National Council of Women's Organizations, MomsRising, Ms. Foundation for Women, Association of Women in Science, National Women's Political Caucus, Las Comadres, League of United Latin American Citizens, National Puerto Rican Forum, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, Women of ALPFA, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, The Latina Center,
Final and most important step: Action
Write down those goals and devise a plan of attack. Go for it!
The best advice I can give you is to empower yourself and teach this generation of children to be leaders. Prepare them to fill leadership roles, there are many.
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Your turn. Tell me, what are you doing today to empower yourself?
Are there any other organizations or groups you recommend?
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“We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.” Steve Maraboli
"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud." Coco Chanel
"You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down." Toni Morrison
"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will." Charlotte Brontë
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bonus: A video of a brilliant Ted Talk by Sheryl Sandberg to give you even more to think about. She suggests why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions and offers 3 powerful pieces of advice. I hope you are inspired and I can't wait to hear about it.
Synonyms: accredit, allow, capacitate, charge, commission, delegate, entitle, entrust, grant, invest, legitimize, license, okay, permit, privilege, qualify, sanction, vest, warrant, accord, accredit, admit, approve, authorize, be big, be game for, bear, brook, certify, commission, consent, empower , endorse, endure, favor, free up, give a blank check, give carte blanche, give leave, give permission, give the go-ahead, give the green light, go along with, grant permission, hear of, hold with, indulge, let, license, live with, oblige, okay, pass, pass on, put up with, recognize, release, sanction, sit still for, stand, suffer, support