Women can be empowered by supporting their sense of self-worth, their freedom to make their own decisions, and their right to have an impact on social change for both themselves and other people.

It is intimately related to female emancipation, a fundamental human right to create a more peaceful, wealthy world.

Female empowerment is frequently linked in Western nations to particular historical eras of the women’s rights movement. The suffrage movement typically develops in three waves, with the first wave starting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sexual revolution and the position of women in society were part of the second wave of the 1960s. The 1990s are frequently cited as the start of the third wave of feminism.

In recent years, a significant global movement dedicated to empowering women and advocating for their rights has formed and is continuing to progress. The popularity of holidays like International Women’s Empowerment Day is also rising.

But despite significant advancements, prejudice and violence against women and girls persist everywhere.

The state of women’s empowerment around the world

Gender equality is both a fundamental human right and necessary for a peaceful, thriving world.

However, there are still considerable obstacles for women and girls worldwide. Typically, women are underrepresented in positions of authority and decision-making. They are paid differently for doing the same amount of work, and they frequently encounter various work obstacles related to the law.

In developing countries, girls and women are viewed as less valuable than males. They are frequently forced to perform household chores or are married off for a dowry before they reach adulthood rather than being sent to school. Every year, up to 12 million teenage females get married.

While there has been some improvement in some regions of the world, there is still much that needs to be done to address the issues of gender inequality.

Why is it so crucial to empower girls and women?

The well-being and socioeconomic advancement of families, communities, and nations depend on women’s empowerment.

Women can realize their most significant potential when they lead secure, contented, and fruitful lives—raising happier, healthier children and contributing their skills to the workforce. They can also support healthy economies, advance societies, and benefit all of humanity.

Education plays a significant role in this empowerment. Girls who receive an education can, later on, pursue meaningful employment and boost their nation’s economy. With eight years of teaching, they are also four times less likely to marry young, which makes them and their families healthier.

How World Vision promotes women’s empowerment

We think that girls and women who are strong, educated, and empowered can effect change.

Supporting women and girls gives them a chance to stand up for their rights and fight for their communities. Additionally, they can advance socially, which they can pass on to subsequent generations.

This implies that women’s organizations, laws promoting women’s empowerment, and women’s charities can acquire traction and strengthen the global community.