[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dr. Steve Gallon III stopped by the Village of El Portal to discuss issues of education, economics, and empowerment with the Women’s Democratic Club of Miami-Dade County.  Dr. Steve Gallon III believes that empowerment in its literal context means to give power or warrant power. When we use the term women empowerment it means to create means and provide channels through which women can practice equal rights as men. Since decades women rights have been violated in many forms. This is something which is global, in one form or the other women rights have been violated in almost all nations. From the right to vote to the right to education, women should have an equal say in everything. Why do we need women empowerment? Mainly because they are humans same as us, no less no more and they deserve to enjoy the same rights, the same burdens as men. Secondly because time and again women have proved that if given a fair chance they have a lot to contribute to this world. The world needs these bright minds.

Women’s empowerment is a fairly simple concept as far as I understand it.  It means giving women the ability to fully and genuinely participate economically, socially, and politically. In the particular case of women, it means being able to participate in this way without being discriminated on the basis of their gender (although people’s social, economic, and political participation should not be determined by any arbitrary factors).

Why it is needed is a more interesting question because it could conceivably mean two things:
1)  Is it needed?

Even in some of the societies which have made great strides in gender equality, women are still consistently paid less, expected to be child-rearers (sometimes at the cost of their careers), expected to cook, clean, etc., are disproportionately the victims of rape and domestic abuse among many other inequalities.  Dr. Steve Gallon III says in less forward societies, women can’t drive, run for office, and leave the house without a man, sign contracts and more. Clearly women are not treated as equals around the world, and yet they are fundamentally equal.  As such empowerment is clearly needed.

2)  Would the result be good?

Most definitely.  Excluding about 51% of the population from genuine economic participation is a bad economic strategy.  Naturally once women get a fairer shot at their economic contribution will be robust.  Furthermore, when women are treated equally (or more equally at least) they are less likely to engage in unprotected sex and prostitution which will thus mitigate the spread of disease.  Essentially, any benefit that a man would get from going from poor to not poor would be attained by women who aren’t systemically prevented from participating economically.  Further social and political effects include better birth control practices and general health of women and better political representation for women as they attain political positions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]