Topic: Development
The subject of 'empowerment' comes up a lot in development-speak, particularly where programs aimed specifically at women are concerned. And I have never cared for it, but have never really been able to articulate why. But Maia's post at Capitalism Bad, Tree Pretty, crystallized the reasons for my resistance to the term for me. I couldn't agree more that it's smurfy, imprecise, individualistic, and that the idea that someone or something can 'empower' someone is seriously counterintuitive. And here a few other reasons why I think it's time to put 'empowerment' out to pasture. Once a word has been co-opted for use by the personal care industry, any power it might once have had is totally, utterly, completely gone.