Female empowerment is a phrase and movement we see promoted on a daily from tv, radio, social media, and ear to ear. However, the female empowerment you may be thinking of may be different from mine and even the people in your life.

What is female empowerment?

Female empowerment is described as “accepting women’s viewpoints or making an effort to seek them, raising the status of women through education, awareness, literacy, and training.” Other sites described it as ” defined to 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 seems that nowadays female empowerment is only seen fit when it applies to the values that you see in yourself. People will judge celebrities like Cardi B, Kim Kardashian, Megan the Stallion just because their definition of female empowerment doesn’t fit their values. When you put other women down, you are putting yourself down as a female. Do I live a lifestyle like any of these women above? No, but I would never deny that they do empower women because there are all different kind of women. Every woman has a role model for a reason. It embodies someone you want to be because it is within your standards. Every single person has a different version of this.

How should women empower another?

Empowering another involves being there for each other and showing support. Not judging and being a person that stands up for others and doesn’t let others feel down. A person who empowers women also empowers themselves by by finding ways to respect themself. Cheering each other on, not mom shaming, not gossiping behind each other’s back is another way to show female empowerment. When women start backstabbing each other it shows how weak you are. Women should unite together because it’s been one hell of a fight. Female empowerment is unconditional support that doesn’t degrade or feel anyone inferior. Differences are accepted but you should never should never try to hurt someone else to make yourself feel bigger.

Female Empowerment is not :

Female empowerment is not backstabbing and not showing up for each other. Men can show female empowerment, too. When men stay silent against issues women face on a daily they are not promoting female empowerment. The way women have been viewed throughout the years has always been inferior to men, so when men want to show that women are equal and just as strong if not more (lol); they should speak up and defend women.

This is why I respect Lizzo so much. She has truly embodies female empowerment because she is not afraid to be herself. She is fearless and speaks out for women that do not fit the mold society wants to put on them. Unfortunately it comes with a lot of backlash, but when you are an empowered woman you know your job will never be easy because you will always want to fight for what’s right. Lizzo is working to provide influence and change. Some may say, “oh how is she doing that by taking half naked pictures of themselves?” Well because for many women and young girls growing up they have never seen a body different than theirs, and they need to be empowered to love it.

How has social media weakened female empowerment?

Fighting for what’s right can look differently on many women and can be received in different format. In 2020, we saw how far social media can take us, so when you see a woman post a vulnerable photo of themselves on the internet stop hating. Give that girl a like or compliment. If you feel the need to say something negative, you need to check yourself. Why do you feel the need to think so neglected? What did this person do to you?Sometimes our minds our so quick to think negatively that we aren’t seeing the human in the images we see everyday.

Social media has made it hard for people to make true connections and will write and say the meanest things to a person. Whether or not you agree with a person’s lifestyle , you should never feel the need to disrespect. This is where I just know that social media has tarnished respect where people think they can just say anything. Sadly, many comments are target towards women and their appearance, and how they act, and what they do for a living, and the type of relationships that they have.

When it comes to men, these topics rarely get discussed and if they do it is brushed under the rug very quickly. Never so often are men truly punished without losing their power. We have clearly seen that happened in the last 4 years, but we aren’t going to get into that because that’s just another example on how female empowerment has been weakened throughout the last 10 years.

How do you show female empowerment? Do you think there is a lack of female empowerment in today’s society?

Share your thoughts below.

Jules ❤