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. In some of the developed countries, female empowerment is often associated with specific phases of the women's rights movement in history [adapted from www.worldvision.com.au]. Women empowerment is about women having the same fundamental rights and freedom entitled to any human being. It is about not limiting women’s capacity for personal development, to pursue a career of choice or to decide about her life. It is about letting a woman be.

To some of us, women empowerment is acutely contextual, deeply ingrained in cultural values and societal beliefs and faiths. Women empowerment is not about just ‘equality’ with men. It is not to be construed or perceived as a few women ‘fighting’ for one’s fundamental rights. It is more about women, by themselves, realizing their potential and discovering their self-esteem and gaining self-confidence. It is about destroying the shackles of subjugation by man-made customs and practices. It is about not being subservient to causes that are unjust.

We seem to have come a long way in terms of gross gender-based discrimination, practices and beliefs. However, in a society characterised by patriarchal culture, steeped in traditional practices skewed in favour of men, women still face challenges and hurdles distinct from men. Gender stereotyping results in exploitation of women and creates barriers to their advancement. For example, stereotypes like women as nurturers and caregivers results in women shouldering larger share of responsibilities of childcare and housework. Harmful stereotypes of women perceived as multitaskers, ‘super women’ balancing their professional and personal lives, leads to women bearing the heavier load at home and work.

There are many dimensions and perspectives to the subject of women empowerment. Through this TEDxPSGRKCW event, we hope to find a few of those and give expression to our own limitations, prejudices, biases, and imposition of ourselves on others.