Understanding Disempowerment: Definition, Examples, and Consequences

Asked by: A.K. | Date: 2019-05-28
Disempower is a verb that means to deprive someone of power or authority, or to take away their ability to make decisions or act independently. It can also refer to the act of reducing the influence or effectiveness of something or someone.
For example, if a government passes a law that takes away the autonomy of a local community, it could be said that the government has disempowered that community. Similarly, if a company reduces the decision-making authority of its employees, it could be said that the company has disempowered its workforce.
Disempower can also be used as an adjective to describe something that lacks power or influence, such as a disempowered community or a disempowered individual. In this context, the word emphasizes the lack of agency or control that the person or group has over their own lives and circumstances.