Defining Empowerment theory

Majority of the literature

Empowerment is an intentional ongoing process centered in the local community, involving mutual respect, critical reflection, caring and group participation, through which people lacking an equal share of valued resources gain greater access to and control over those resources.

(Perkins and Zimmerman, 1995, p.570)

It is important…

Not to be fooled by the root word Empower which states that power can be given to another. In social work practice empowerment is seen as the process of gaining power, developing power, talking or seizing power” (Lee, 1996, p. 224)

To understand that “The empowerment process resides in the person not the helper” (Lee, 1996, p. 224)

Barbara Simon

“Empowerment is a process capable of being sustained and initiated only by those who seek power or self determination. Others can only aid or abet in this empowerment process”

(as cited in, Lee, 1996, p224)

Two conditions needed

1.A clinician with a raised consciousness of what is causing their client to be or feel oppressed.

2.A client who seeks to be empowered (Lee, 1996, p.225)

Professionals…

Help “discover and unleash the power that lies within individuals, families, and neighborhoods” (Long & Holle, 2007, p. 195)

“Empathy is an important part of the empowerment process because it enables bridges to be made so that (the) client and worker can stand together to confront personal blocks to empowerment” (Lee, 1996, p. 219)

Historical Precedents

Two major components

1.Social, political and economic movements such as: decolonization, African liberation movement, the women’s movement, gay right movements, civil rights movement, poor people’s power movements.

2.Clinical theories focusing on Human potentialities” (Lee, 1996. P.223)

Jane Addams

The Settlement Movement

Help evolve the empowerment approach by fighting for “social equality, social justice and social reform” (Lee, 1996, p. 221).

Developed the Hull House which made sure that oppressed groups obtained their fare share of resources.

Received a Novel peace Prize in 1938 for her leadership role in domestic reform (Lee, 1996, p221).

African American Women’s Club

Blacks were forced to develop their own helping institutions due to rigid segregation laws (as cited in lee, 1996, p. 221)

Many black women activist such as Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Sara A. Collins-Fernandis were instrumental in promoting social work reform. (Lee, 1996, p.223)

Bertha Capen Reynolds

Pioneer of social work who brought about the importance of empowerment by providing individuals with a sense of social security during a turning point for the American Social Welfare System during the great depression and new deal (1930’s)”

(Lee, 1996, p. 223)

Paulo Freire: Major contributor to empowerment thinking in social work

Greatly believed in the effectiveness of the critical thinking approach in the empowerment theory.

He believed that once one has gained a great level of consciousness they are able to “perceive social, political and economic contradictions and take actions against the oppressive elements of reality” (as cited in Lee, 1996, P.226)

Barbara Bryant Solomon: First to develop the concept of Empowerment for the social work profession

“Powerlessness is based on several factors, such as: economic insecurity, absence of experience in the political arena, absence of access to information, physical and emotional stress, learned helplessness that prevent individuals from actualizing possibilities that do exist” (as cited in lee, 1996, p.224)

A better understanding of Empowerment Theory

The empowerment Theory compels us to think:

In terms of wellness vs. illness, competence vs. deficits and strength vs. weakness.

Interventions that enhance wellness while they also ameliorate problems.

Interventions that provide opportunities for participants to develop the knowledge and skills needed to live a healthy life style

(Perkins & Zimmermen, 1995, p. 570)

For Clients to be truly empowered they must not only “develop critical consciousness but they must reduce self-blame, assume personal responsibility for change and enhance self efficacy” (Lee, 1996, p.226)

Clients themselves need to work on changing their oppressive environment and lessen the effects of internalized oppression (Lee, 1996, p.210)

“Society Blames the victim for power deficits even as power is withheld and abused by dominant groups” (as cited in Lee, 1996, p. 226)

Personal troubles and public issues need to be looked at as a whole in order to understand the role that they each play in causing the client to feel powerless.

People/clients must identify the forces of oppression, must name them, examine them, face them, and join together to challenge them as they have been internalized and encountered in external power structures such as the media, and politics” (Lee, 1996, p.220)

“Theories of empowerment include both processes and outcomes, suggesting that actions, activities, or structures may be empowering and that the outcome of such processes result in a level of being empowered” (as cited in Perkins & Zimmermen, 1995, p.570)

The ultimate goal of empowerment work goes beyond meeting individual needs for growth and power to empowering communities and developing a stronger society (lee, 1996, p.229)