Every Women’s Day, we see an outpouring of messages, corporate pledges, and social media campaigns celebrating empowerment. But the true meaning of women’s empowerment often gets lost somewhere in all the noise. Is it just about having opportunities? Or is it about something deeper - fairness, responsibility, and balance? And most importantly, does real empowerment mean ignoring misandry or misusing the movement?

Empowerment Is About Strength, Not Superiority

Women’s empowerment is about ensuring equal rights, opportunities, and respect. But it’s not about entitlement. True empowerment doesn’t mean using gender as a shield to justify unfair advantages or to evade accountability. It’s about independence, self-reliance, and creating a world where both men and women can thrive - without one being favored over the other.

The Problem With Ignoring Misandry

Misogyny is rightfully condemned, but misandry - the prejudice against men - is often brushed aside. Why? If equality is the goal, shouldn’t fairness apply both ways?

When we ignore misandry, we overlook real issues - like biases in custody battles, domestic violence against men, sexual crimes, or workplace discrimination that affects them too. If we truly believe in empowerment, we must ensure it doesn’t become a one-sided conversation. Equality isn’t about shifting power; it’s about leveling the field for everyone.

The Role of Women in Shaping Empowerment

Women have a crucial role in ensuring empowerment is genuine and not just a convenient label. It’s about:

• Redefining Feminism: Feminism isn’t about proving men wrong or competing with them - it’s about ensuring both genders thrive, without bias or resentment.

• Calling Out the Wrong Practices: Just as we demand accountability from men for unfair treatment, we should also call out cases where ‘empowerment’ is misused - whether it’s false accusations, biased laws, or narratives that harm men unfairly.

• Building a Culture of Mutual Respect: Real empowerment comes from collaboration, not conflict. The moment it turns into ‘us vs. them,’ we lose sight of the bigger goal - equality that benefits all.

Empowerment That Works for Everyone

The true test of empowerment is whether it creates a society that is fair to all, not just when it’s convenient. If we fight for rights only when they benefit us, we weaken the credibility of the movement itself.

This Women’s Day, let’s go beyond the clichés. Let’s make empowerment about fairness, about respect, and about ensuring no one - man or woman - is left behind. Because real empowerment isn’t about taking power from one to give to another. "It’s about creating a world where no one has to fight to belong."