A Social Charter for India

5

Empowerment of Women

Vina Mazumdar and C. P. Sujaya

Introduction

Two caveats or preliminary observations form the basis of this chapter. They are:

1. The Concept of Empowerment of Women

The concept of ‘empowerment’ of women is to be understood as a process and a strategy rather than an end, an objective or a product. The empowerment process strengthens women individually and collectively and gives them the confidence to learn and to take charge of their lives. The empowerment process crosses the frontiers of the family and household—which restrict and confine women to the ‘private sphere’—and use capacity building methodologies to help women recognise their ‘other’ identities—as workers, as vital members of the community and as individuals ...