Women and Power: Overcoming Barriers to Leadership and Influence

        The words "women empowerment" are made up of two words: "women" and "empowerment." Giving someone power or authority is referred to as empowerment. Women's empowerment refers to giving women the power to make decisions for themselves. It means that women should have equal opportunities in all fields without discrimination.

        Women have endured a great deal over the years. They were seen as if they didn't exist in previous ages. Almost all rights, including the ability to vote, belonged to men. However, as time passed by, women became more aware of their power and agency. The revolution for women's empowerment began there. Women's empowerment came as a breath of fresh air as they were restricted to make decisions for themselves before. This helped women to get to know more about their rights and how they must forge their path in society.

        “Women hold up half the sky,” remarked Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong. This phrase serves as a wonderful reminder of the importance of women in a world that appears to be ruled by men. Women perform an equally important role as men do. This does not imply that women must compete with men for control of many aspects of society. As stated in the quote, women have their "share of the sky," meaning, women leaders have special skills and abilities that they can apply to the benefit of the country and its people. The only remaining obstacle is to communicate this truth to decision-makers and policymakers so that they can begin to create an environment that fosters women's empowerment and leadership.

        Let's have a look at the collage I created. On the left side are the women who are actively working. These images were chosen since these vocations are not only for men but also for women. Women can be carpenters too. Women are capable of performing the same tasks as men. The women leaders and icons on the right are famed for their fearlessness and leadership. They instilled in us the desire to persevere in our efforts. Lea Salonga, the award-winning broadway singer-actress used her social media platforms to voice her opinions on current affairs, particularly gender equality. She also posts a lot of encouraging remarks on the internet to help others who are dealing with self-esteem and self-love. Lea is as bold as she is gifted, and she isn't afraid to speak her thoughts, especially when it comes to the most important issues. Throughout her long career as a lawyer and judge, Miriam Defensor-Santiago served the Philippines in all three branches – judicial, executive, and legislative. She became increasingly well-known in her latter years when she ran for President and spoke on the Senate floor. However, throughout her many years of service, this is just the tip of the iceberg. She received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service in 1988, with a citation that read, "for bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency." As a senator, she is known for her tenacity and acts as an inspiration to young women interested in politics. Josefa Llanes Escoda, a suffragist, boosted all Filipinas' political voices. She worked for the National Federation of Women's Clubs as the executive secretary in 1923. (NFWC). Escoda fought for women's involvement in Philippine politics soon after suffrage in this role. Her forward-thinking, feminist ideals understood the power women possessed with their new civic identity. Maria Josefa Gabriela's story debunks the notion that women are solely victims of war. She climbed to become the Philippine revolution's first female leader. After her husband, resistance leader Diego Silang was slain, Gabriela Silang led one of over 300 armed revolts led by Filipinos against the Spanish regime. She was given the title "Henerala," which meant "woman general," and she had the same, if not greater, fighting spirit and resolve as her husband. The attributes of an empowered woman can be seen at the top of my collage. A powerful woman fights obstacles, asserts herself, and refuses to remain silent in the face of power abuse. Women are not reliant on others. Strong women are unafraid of failure and believe in their ability to manage their emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

        With women's empowerment, we can already communicate to the wider public that women have their perspectives. Women have become conscious of their rights as a result of the initiation of a heroic heroine back then, and they advanced their movement as a result. This movement should be joined by all people, not just women, because it is fighting for the rights and welfare of all people. There are still many obstacles to overcome before we can attain gender equality and women's empowerment around the world. But, perhaps, we will be able to erase society's "stereotype mentality," and we will always remember that anything men can achieve, women can do as well.