Definition
When a person gains freedom and power to do what they want to do or to control what happens. Empowerment means that people are equal citizens. It is not possible to empower someone else, but it is possible to work and support people in ways that mean they feel empowered and they have more control and responsibility, and to change things that disempower people.
The bigger picture
Empowerment is often mentioned in relation to strengths-based working and co-production. However, often local councils say things like ‘we want to empower our customers’ or ‘we empower our service users’. This suggests people working in the organisation see power as something they control and can choose to give away (or not). Saying ‘our’ reinforces the unequal power dynamic and a paternalistic approach to care and support. By talking about ‘empowering people’ and ‘giving power to people’ we’re further embedding the very power dynamic we are (in theory) aiming to remove.
For all of us to have genuine power, we must address the politics and policies and prejudices that remove people’s choice and control and disempower people.
Saying it differently
Use with caution. It might be more helpful to talk about people feeling empowered, or people having freedom, choice, and control.