Women Empowerment and Autonomy_A Conceptual Review

Abstract

Empowerment refers to the process of transforming power relations from hierarchical structures to an egalitarian one by enabling the powerless to create and exercise power from within. Understanding this critical dimension is of utmost importance in discussing women empowerment in the context of sustainable development goals. This paper attempts to  present an insightful review of the concept of empowerment and autonomy of women and the determinants thereof. Using secondary sources from 1990s onwards this research paper has emerged with the conclusion that women empowerment being a multidimensional concept has to be examined as such;  the empowerment in one dimension does not necessarily translate into another; the empowerment and autonomy is conditioned and moulded by regional and cultural context and the enablers like education and employment are not universally effective in bringing about the transformation in women’s position vis a vis the family and society.