By: Klaus Döring, Davao City/Philippines
"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent."
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright
Women’s empowerment can be defined as promoting women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others.
It is closely aligned with female empowerment – a fundamental human right that’s also key to achieving a more peaceful, prosperous world.
In Western countries, female empowerment is often associated with specific phases of the women’s rights movement in history. This movement tends to be split into three waves, the first beginning in the 19th and early 20th century where suffrage was a key feature. The second wave of the 1960s included the sexual revolution and the role of women in society. Third wave feminism is often seen as beginning in the 1990s.
Women’s empowerment and promoting women’s rights have emerged as a part of a major global movement and are continuing to break new ground in recent years. Days like International Women’s Empowerment Day are also gaining momentum.
But despite a great deal of progress, women and girls continue to face discrimination and violence in every part of the world.
Empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, communities and countries.
When women are living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential, contributing their skills to the workforce and can raise happier and healthier children. They are also able to help fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.
When women are living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential, contributing their skills to the workforce and can raise happier and healthier children. They are also able to help fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.
To overcome these situations and to have an independent role in society, women's empowerment is needed. Empowering women is the fundamental right of women. They can have equal rights to participate in education, society, economics, and politics. They are allowed to have higher education and treated in the same way like men.
Feminism is not a dirty word, but it’s certainly been seen that way throughout history.
Thankfully, there are plenty of women who have fought for equality, even in the face of discrimination, violence and more. From securing the right to vote to our continuing fights for pay equality and for action to be taken on climate change, it’s women who are leading the way.
Thankfully, there are plenty of women who have fought for equality, even in the face of discrimination, violence and more. From securing the right to vote to our continuing fights for pay equality and for action to be taken on climate change, it’s women who are leading the way.
Annie Lennox, singer and political activist said: “We all fight over what the label 'feminism' means, but for me it's about empowerment. It's not about being more powerful than men - it's about having equal rights with protection, support, justice. It's about very basic things. It's not a badge like a fashion item.”
My empowering woman is my wife Rossana Balcom-Döring. For four decades now! We are celebrating our Rubin-anniversary. Allow me to use a typical saying: "Behind every successful man stays a woman!"
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