What is Empowerment?
Empowerment comes in many different forms (ex: personal empowerment; empowerment of
others). It is the degree of autonomy and perceived support that a person (or community) has. It provides a sense of security and assuredness in your actions, beliefs, and values. Personal empowerment is related to how a person is able to take command of their own life, make beneficial decisions, and act in alignment with their authentic selves.
How does the concept of empowerment relate to the LGBTQIA+ community?
Historically (and currently) people who identify as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community face validation issues from people in their lives. Friends, family members, and even strangers have something to say about a person’s identity, who they choose to love, and how they choose to express themselves. Not only do people within the LGBTQIA+ community face validation issues from their everyday connections, they also experience validation issues on a systemic level. Laws and legislation policies are in place around the world that directly impede on and diminish LGBTQIA+ people’s quality of life (ex: the recent “don’t say gay” bill in Florida). Folks within this community are no strangers to the sense of “otherness” that someone may feel when they do not fit into heteronormative societal standards. It can be degrading and alienating for someone to feel like they don’t belong in many everyday settings. In short, people within the LGBTQIA+ community are targeted simply because they have chosen to be their most authentic selves. Empowerment is needed within this community because everyone who belongs to it is on a different step of their path towards becoming themselves, and each individual is posed with both unique and shared barriers toward doing just that.
I am part of the LGBTQIA+ community, how can I empower myself?
Personal empowerment is, as the name would imply, a personalized experience. Perhaps you have recently discovered that you identify as bisexual. Your personal empowerment may look different compared to someone who has identified as bisexual for several years. There are a few things that everyone can do to empower themselves no matter where they are on their personal journeys.
Create or find personal affirmations. Affirmations, when used in an appropriate way, can help
you further develop your sense of self. Perhaps you need to deepen your connection with
yourself as a whole. A good affirmation for you might be “I love myself more and more each
day” or “I learn something new about myself each day.” Maybe you want to feel more
comfortable in the way that you express yourself. Some affirmations related to self-expression would be “I dress for myself and my personal preference only,” “I deserve to feel comfortable in the world around me,” and “I let go of any fear I have related to expressing my truest self.” Affirmations can be used in several different contexts. Maybe you use them like a mantra in times of need, or maybe you start/end your day with an affirmation. A personal favorite activity of mine is writing my mantras on sticky notes and leaving them in places that I frequently see (ex: above the kitchen sink).
Other ways to empower yourself are to set attainable personal goals, practice self-care, engage in values exploration, and surround yourself with supportive people who love you as you are. In turn, you can act as a supportive figure or community member in someone else’s life as a way to empower them and yourself as well. This is not a comprehensive list of personal empowerment tactics, because each individual may gain something from their own unique experiences. I empower myself by connecting with nature and performing grounding exercises or standing in a superhero pose before important life events.
There are a few key components to self-empowerment that are essential to experiencing growth in this area. Are you motivated to empower yourself? Are you interested in developing a deeper, more positive relationship with yourself? Do you have a supportive group of people you can rely on? Do you have access to a safe space where you can freely express yourself? Take these things into consideration, or talk about them with a trusted person in your life. You never know what you might discover about yourself!