How ‘Women’s Empowerment’ Lost Its Meaning
O n Wednesday, after a disappointing showing in the Super Tuesday primaries,Nikki Haley—the first Republican woman to win a presidential primary contest—announced that she is suspending her campaign. When she does, some will no doubt remember her, as an article in the conservative National Review suggested, as “an example of female empowerment.” But she’s certainly not alone. In just the first week of February, Tulsa, Okla., held a “celebration of female empowerment”; Woman’s Day magazine featured “women empowerment songs”; and the Bechtel corporation announced its “pioneering women’s empowerment program” in Saudi Arabia. Now, with Women's History Month in full swing, examples of women’s empowerment are seemingly everywhere, appearing regularly in stories on politics, business, and popular culture. A quick Google search of the term yields more than 17 million hits. Various websites list the “9 best charities for women’s em power ment,” “10 NGOs working for women’s em power ment,...