The Problem With ‘Empowerment’: Are Women Being Sold a Dream?
Every day, women are bombarded with messages of empowerment. Whether it’s through social media influencers, advertisements, or corporate slogans, we’re told to “lean in,” “own our power,” and “break the glass ceiling.” The idea sounds inspiring—who doesn’t want to feel empowered, confident, and in control of their own destiny? But there’s a growing question many women are beginning to ask themselves: Are we really being empowered, or are we being sold a dream that doesn’t lead to real change?
The Empowerment Narrative: Is It Just a Buzzword?
Empowerment is everywhere. It’s in every marketing campaign, in every self-help book, and at the core of countless motivational speeches. But if we scratch beneath the surface, we start to see a troubling pattern. The concept of “empowerment” has been commodified, watered down, and packaged in a way that benefits those who profit from it—whether it’s corporations selling self-help programs or brands pushing their latest “empowerment” product.
At first glance, empowerment sounds like exactly what women need in a world that often diminishes their worth. Yet, when we peel back the layers, we begin to wonder: Does the empowerment we’re being sold actually bring about lasting change, or is it simply a marketing tool designed to keep us consuming, striving, and chasing after an unattainable ideal?
The Pressure to Be “Empowered” While Facing Real Struggles
While the world tells us that empowerment is within our reach, the reality for many women is far more complicated. Women are expected to juggle multiple roles—whether it’s as caregivers, professionals, or community leaders—while navigating systemic barriers such as gender inequality, wage gaps, and limited access to resources.
In a world where women are told to “own their power,” the pressure to be constantly positive, driven, and successful can feel overwhelming. The idea that we should always be striving for more, doing more, and being more can leave us exhausted, burned out, and feeling like we’re never enough. The empowerment message often ignores the struggles women face on a daily basis—financial inequality, mental health challenges, and societal expectations—and instead focuses on an idealized vision of what it means to be “empowered.”
This disconnect creates a sense of inadequacy for many women who are unable to meet these expectations. We’re told to be confident, to take risks, to seize opportunities—but what happens when we’re constantly fighting just to get by, let alone take on the pressure of “having it all”?
Empowerment or Exploitation?
There’s another side to the conversation that rarely gets addressed—the way the empowerment narrative can sometimes be used as a tool of exploitation. Large corporations and advertisers have realized that “empowerment” sells. Whether it’s a beauty brand claiming to empower women by selling overpriced cosmetics or a fitness company pushing the idea that self-worth comes from achieving a certain body type, the empowerment message is often tied to consumption.
This creates a toxic cycle: We’re told that in order to feel empowered, we need to buy something or change ourselves to fit a certain mold. This message benefits corporations while leaving women feeling empty and unfulfilled. The empowerment we’re sold is conditional—contingent on external factors like our appearance, our income, or our social status. True empowerment, on the other hand, comes from within and can’t be bought or sold.
Instead of genuine empowerment, we’re being sold a dream that keeps us striving for external validation, often at the cost of our mental health and self-worth. We are encouraged to change ourselves—whether through products, diets, or a certain image—instead of being encouraged to accept ourselves just as we are.
The Disconnect Between Empowerment and Systemic Change
One of the most significant problems with the empowerment narrative is that it often overlooks the need for systemic change. Women may be empowered on an individual level, but unless we address the deep-rooted inequalities that still exist in our society, true empowerment for all women remains elusive. The message of empowerment often focuses on personal achievement, success, and “breaking barriers,” but it fails to acknowledge the fact that the system itself is designed in a way that disproportionately limits opportunities for many women.
From unequal pay to lack of access to education and healthcare, the system is stacked against women in many parts of the world. Empowering women individually is important, but unless we tackle these broader issues, we are simply putting a Band-Aid on a much deeper wound. True empowerment comes when women have access to the same opportunities and resources as their male counterparts—not when we are told to “just try harder.”
What Real Empowerment Looks Like
So, what does real empowerment look like for women? It’s not about chasing after an unattainable ideal of success or buying the latest product that promises to “transform” us. Real empowerment comes from within and is rooted in self-acceptance, self-compassion, and the recognition that we are worthy, regardless of external validation.
It’s about creating spaces where women can share their stories, uplift one another, and work together to make systemic change. True empowerment involves addressing the challenges that women face in all aspects of life—whether it’s through better policies, equal pay, or mental health support. It’s not about fitting into a mold created by society or the media; it’s about creating a world where women can thrive on their own terms.
Empowerment That Promotes Collective Growth
While individual empowerment is important, collective empowerment is even more powerful. When women come together, share resources, and support one another, we create an environment where everyone can succeed. Empowerment isn’t just about individual achievements—it’s about breaking down the barriers that hold all women back. It’s about creating networks of support, advocating for equal rights, and ensuring that all women have access to the tools they need to succeed.
The empowerment we need is not one that pits us against each other, but one that lifts us up and encourages us to work together to create lasting change. This kind of empowerment is not about competition; it’s about collaboration, solidarity, and creating a world where women are truly equal, in every sense of the word.
Closing Thoughts: Shifting the Narrative
As women, we need to reclaim the narrative of empowerment. We need to stop buying into the illusion that empowerment is something we can purchase or achieve through external validation. True empowerment is about recognizing our worth, understanding the systems that hold us back, and working together to create a world where all women can thrive. We must demand a shift in the conversation from individual success to collective transformation—a world where empowerment means not just rising on our own, but lifting others up as we go.
It’s time to stop being sold a dream and start building a reality where empowerment is not a buzzword, but a movement that leads to meaningful change.