Power at work: understanding positionality and gender dynamics in the debates on women鈥檚 empowerment
Abstract
This paper outlines a theoretical framework applicable to the concept of power, with a specific focus on its relevance for the Women鈥檚 Empowerment in Muslim Contexts (WEMC) project. Power is here argued to be a driving force behind the exclusion and marginalization of individuals and groups, and is understood to permeate throughout and across people, groups, and societies. In order to discuss the forces impeding and promoting women鈥檚 empowerment, Eric Wolf鈥檚 discussion of the four modalities of power (1999, 2001) is combined with the three forms of power discussed in John Gaventa鈥檚 (2006) three dimensional approach to the study of power, inspired by VeneKlasen and Miller鈥檚 (2002) earlier theorizing. The model here proposed emphasizes the ideological and material conditions governing 鈥榮tructural power鈥� and charts its influence on the contexts in which 鈥榩ower to鈥� and 鈥榩ower over鈥� can be exhibited. An integrative example of this model is proposed and is followed by a discussion of Risse and Sikkink鈥� s (1999) 鈥淔ive-Phase Spiral Model鈥� of human rights implementation, which illustrates how sustainable structural changes can be achieved.
Citation
WEMC Workshop Paper, 24 pp.
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