The Women Empowerment Movement, which had persisted for many decades, constitutes the universal feminine desire for equity. But recently, with the overturn of Roe v. Wade, many activists had begun to reconsider the effectiveness of such empowerment. According to history, this movement awarded women by bringing more females into job positions and the public’s attention; however, “empowerment feminism hasn’t really delivered on its promises,” as Lux Alptraum wrote in the article. There are still problems remaining unsolved, or even emerging, such as losing the basic human right to control one’s body.
“It’s Time We Stop Playing by the Rules,” as the news title shows, the Women Empowerment Movement is believed to be manipulated rather than a “fair game.” With the effort devoted, there appears no equivalent outcome; rather, they are faced with discouragement and discrimination that sway them away from their desires. The ultimate solution to improve on this situation lies in feminists’ strategy. Abiding by the “rules,” women are playing a game that seldom allows them to win entirely. Recalling the history of other marginalized groups, such as the people of LGBTQ+ and the colonized communities, they have found ways to resist the “rules” and play outside of the box by fiercely demanding liberation. The era of a “Disempowerment Movement” is ignited, symbolizing a change in how women advocate for themselves.
Emma Sulkowicz, the artist behind the performance art “Mattress Performance,” suggests the idea of disempowerment due to her personal experience of facing harassment, but later disappointment in the proper resolution. She considered her engagement with the societal expectation of a feminist movement largely purposeless. In order to truly enter into the public’s attention, “a protest that was intentionally ugly, discomforting and inconvenient” is needed. In reality, there were many instances when feminists execute law-breaking and compulsory resolutions that proved successful. For example, before the establishment of legal abortion under Roe v. Wade, the Jane Collective helped to perform safe abortion surgeries for those in need. At the same time, advocates for medicated abortion also emerged, further pushing for the legalization of abortion.
Ultimately, “disempowerment” reminds the world of the unfulfilled purpose of feminist movements, though the word does not represent a realistic strategy in execution. No matter how “rules” change or when the “referee” calls for foul, the liberation of women lies in the hands of women themselves.
Original source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/29/opinion/feminism-empowerment-disempowerment.html
Image source: https://unsplash.com/