preview

Conceptual Analysis Of A Specific Theoretical Construct

Better Essays

Conceptual Analysis of a Specific Theoretical Construct Philosophical/ Historical Roots of Empowerment The philosophy of empowerment derives its origins from a well known educational approach that was introduced by Paulo Freire in the 1960s and also in the participative approaches that were popular in the 1970s. However, the term “empowerment as we know it became increasingly significant in 1976 that was given prominence by the book Black Empowerment written by Barbara Salamon. This book influenced the conceptualization of this term significantly. The term empowerment traces its roots way back to the middle of the 17th century where it was commonly used in the legal profession (Al-Dajani & Marlow, 2013). The meaning of which was to give power to another person to act as a representative. This meaning is still in use, but events overtook it. The paradigm of viewing change as the common factor in any social processes and the refining of alternative models in the 1980s merged to come up with the term empowerment as we know it. The name found its use in strategies employed by Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) and donor agencies. It is during this time that literature and research on empowerment took center stage. The term was specifically used by donor agencies to give a human face to donor power and intervention measures to address issues related to structural adjustment programs and other policies. Empowerment also became a tool used to bring

Get Access