Empowerment…what does it mean?

My dearest readers,

In today’s day and age, the word “empowerment” has become omnipresent across many spheres of society. We speak of empowering women in their professional and career lives, of empowering adolescents to take ownership of their futures, of empowering underrepresented and underprivileged populations to reach greater heights than previous generations. In my own field of medicine, we celebrate a new culture in medicine where patient-centered care means empowering patients to become educated and proactive about their own health.

In light of the great presence that this word has in our quotidian lives, I felt it only fitting to explore its meaning in my recent guest blog post of Stilettos on the Glass Ceiling … a sort of homage to the weight that this word carries in the way we currently seek—it can be argued—the road to success, in both accomplishments and wellbeing.

Thus, to begin, what does empowerment mean exactly? Personally, I’ve come to see empowerment as the way by which, each and every one of us, renders ourselves “powerful,” in a unique way that makes sense within our own lives. In this way, to empower one’s self, or to empower someone else, is very much context dependent, as it depends on different situations and different people alike. For instance, sometimes empowerment can be directed towards bettering or encouraging ourselves, an internal force that is, in turn, also directed inwards. Sometimes though, empowerment can be direct towards someone else or even a group of people as a whole; in this way we have the capacity to empower others, making a difference in other people’s lives. Different situations can also bring different meanings to the act of empowering, whether it is directed towards ourselves or others. For instance, the manner by which one may empower a child to be confident while giving an oral presentation in a classroom may be very different than what it may mean to empower a group of women in a developing nation to participate in the local economy.

The meaning of empowerment also boils down to how we perceive the word “power.” Again, just like the term “empowerment” itself, I feel that “power” carries different meanings based on context; different meanings for different situations and different people. When I think about “empowerment” however, there are certain common forms of “power” that come to my mind. I tend to think of power in terms of gaining autonomy – of becoming more independent and self-efficient. I also tend to think of power in this context as ownership – whether it be “owning” who you are or “owning” a cause or passion; having the power to be authentic and true to yourself and to your cause. Finally, I also tend to see power in the act of empowerment in terms of confidence; confidence in one’s self, confidence in a cause, and confidence in one’s ability to carry through on a dream or ambition.

When it comes to exploring the meaning of empowerment I also feel it important to discern its temporality and role. What I mean by this is when does empowerment come into the picture exactly? The way I see it, empowerment is very much part of the journey. In my opinion, between a starting point and an end goal, dream, or objective, empowerment is a means by which we may flavor the journey towards accomplishment to be one of positivity. Empowerment is a happening; an installation of power in the individual or group, in the form that they require, that allows for the journey between start and finish to be one full of wellbeing, growth, success and belief in said success.

My dearest readers, I think it is quite clear that empowerment is truly a dynamic concept that shifts meaning from one context to another, from one individual to the next. As a concept it can be thoroughly abstract or made concrete, it can be a strong player or a soft undertone in one’s day, it can be somewhat actively pursued or passively stumbled upon, it can be a means by which we may better ourselves or in turn make a difference in the lives of others. I hope this homage to this term, despite only touching upon the subject superficially, has drawn realization to the strong presence of this concept in our society.

See the original article on Stilettos on the Glass Ceiling: http://stilettosontheglassceiling.com/2016/03/what-does-empowerment-mean-to-you-by-maria-psihogios.html

 

A Beautiful New Era of Empowering One Another…In Medicine and Beyond

My dearest readers,

When I tell people who I am meeting for the first time that I am in medical school, I sometimes am met with the response “I bet the environment is super competitive.” This got me thinking one day. Yes, on the one-hand, it is somewhat inevitable that any program that requires as much of its applicants as it does of its students harbors a certain amount of competition. However, on the other hand, my experience of medical school has been one which has been overwhelmingly characterized by support, encouragement, empathy and empowerment amongst classmates. Perhaps a change from years and generations past.

I truly believe this speaks to an evolving culture where empowering one another takes precedence over rivalry and unhealthy levels of competition.

A shift in culture that, in medical school, is mirrored in the approach to patient-centered care that we are taught; one that replaces paternalism of the past with a focus on a therapeutic alliance between patient and doctor. A relationship of trust that is dynamic in nature, involving active discussions, understanding patient needs, and counselling and empowering patients so as to allow them to play an active role in the attainment of their full health and wellbeing potential.

The prevalence of mentorship throughout my education also speaks to an era of empowering one another. As we approach the end of our own medical school journey, my classmates and I have been actively making ourselves available as mentors to students in the years below us. To be a mentor is to be a sharer of advice, knowledge and guidance, taking what one has learned through one’s own life experiences to contribute to the growth of others.

This era of empowering one another extends far beyond the world of medicine. I believe it is a culture that is being nurtured in many professions. It is a common theme explored by networking sites and motivational blogs. It is a dogma and mentality being adopted and nurtured by the young professionals of today.

To make it to the top of the ladder of success is one thing; to achieve one’s dreams and become successful while simultaneously empowering others to do the same is, in my opinion, the true definition of leadership, success and accomplishment. Support  others, inspire others, motivate others…be the epitome of this new era of empowering one another. This is where lies the magic of today and the future.