What is empowerment and how does it fit in with the work of the Advanced Professional Practitioner?

Rapport (1984) highlighted that empowerment is easy to define amongst individuals who have a sense of being powerless However; defining empowerment in terms of an action is a complex task. Moreover, defining the concept opens up much debate. Zimmerman (1984) stated that the very attempt to define empowerment with a single definition implies systematic or formulaic approach with contradicts the concept of empowerment.

One more first understand a concept of power before being able to offer definitions of empowerment. Power is not static; it is mobile and changes as time passes. Weber (1946) delivered the notion that power exists only in terms of relationships between people and things. Therefore, empowerment is the understanding of relationships or perceived relationships between these two variables.

Contemporary research highlights that power can be felt by an individual or by a group at nobody else’s expense. Feminist activists (Miller, 1976; Starhawk, 1987), racial and ethnic groups (Nicola-McLaughlin & Chandler, 1984), and even individuals in families bring into focus another aspect of power, a collectively owned power which is shared (Kreisberg, 1992).

Page (1999) suggests that empowerment within the individual or group has three components which are; 'multi-dimensional, social, and a process'. In order to engage colleagues into an action research project one must pay attention to all three of these components.

Empowerment is multi dimensional with regard to the factors of sociological, psychological, economic, and other dimensions. As described by Weber (1946) social relationships are fundamental in senses of empowerment. Moreover, empowerment and power specifically is a process and an ever change perception which must be reflected upon regularly to ensure its continuum.

Bibliography

Page, N (1993), Empowerment: What Is It?, Journal of Extension, Connecticut, UCON
Kreisberg, S. (1992). Transforming power: Domination, empowerment, and education. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Nicola-McLaughlin, A., & Chandler, Z. (1984; 180-201). Urban politics in the higher education of black women: A case study. In Bookmen & Morgen (Eds.). Women and the politics of empowerment. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Rapport, J. (1984). Studies in empowerment: Introduction to the issue. Prevention in Human Services, 3, 1-7.
Starhawk (1987). Truth or dare. San Francisco: Harper and Row.
Weber, M. (1946). From Max Weber. H.H. Gerth & C.W. Mills (Eds.). New York: Oxford University Press.
Zimmerman, M.A. (1984). Taking aim on empowerment research: On the distinction between individual and psychological conceptions. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18(1), 169-177.