WHAT IS EMPOWERMENT? Perhaps, we should try to understand the process by which a person feels empowered before exploring the formal definition of empowerment. (The story of the performer) According to Rappaport [1987], “empowerment can be psychological in the sense of personal control or influence; and a concern with actual social influence, political power and legal rights”. McArdle [1989] defines empowerment as “the process whereby decisions are made by people who have to bear the consequences of those decisions”. As a Man Thinketh Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social or economic strength of individuals and communities. It often involves the empowered developing confidence in their own capacities, community development, self-help, participation, networking and equality, strengthen one’s belief in his (her) self efficacy. Therefore, any real empowerment must be “self-empowerment”. There must be an internal urge to influence and control [Conger and Kanungo,
. . .lifestyle management