The day Marta understood what empowerment was

  pop art woman leading feminist protest illustration. Foto  ShadowHero. Generated with AI. Adobe Stock, imagen #1276654149. Licencia educativa adquirida por la Indiana University East. Accedido el 9 de abril de 2025.

Marta is 42 years old. She's lived in the United States for five years, but was born in a small town in Latin America. She's a mother of three, a homemaker, and, although she sometimes doesn't say it out loud, she feels tired. Not only from the daily grind, but also from that feeling that her life revolves around others. She cooks, cleans, accompanies, listens... but what about her?

One Tuesday, Marta went to a meeting at the community center. She had seen a sign that said "Women's Workshop," and although she wasn't sure what it was about, she was curious. When she arrived, she found other women like her: some young, some older, some educated, some uneducated. All different, but with one thing in common: a desire to listen to each other and be heard.

The workshop facilitator, a smiling woman, didn't start by talking about laws or rights. She began by asking: "When was the last time you made a decision just for yourself?" Marta thought. It was a long time ago. Maybe when she decided to come to the United States, or when she learned to bake bread on her own. But not much since then.

That day, she learned a new word: empowerment . It wasn't just a long word, or something from TV. It was something she'd already experienced, without knowing it had a name.

The woman from the workshop explained that empowerment isn't about becoming powerful like those in soap operas. It's something deeper. It's about starting to believe that your ideas matter. It's about speaking up and feeling heard. It's about knowing you're not alone, that you can count on other women.

She explained that there are three ways a woman can empower herself. The first begins in the heart: feeling capable . The second begins in relationships: daring to speak up, setting boundaries, demanding respect . And the third begins in the community: joining with others, proposing changes, helping to change what isn't right .

Marta raised her hand. “So, when I decided to leave my country with my children, that was empowerment?” The workshop facilitator smiled: “Yes, that was personal empowerment. And if you were able to organize your family in a new place, it was also relational. And if you're here today, with other women, you're already taking a collective step.”

The meeting continued with stories, laughter, and the occasional tear. They talked about women who can't go out alone, others who work tirelessly, and grandmothers who take care of everyone without anyone to care for them. But they also discussed solutions, networks, and ideas for support. One suggested a WhatsApp group. Another, a knowledge-sharing meeting. In the end, they came away with more than just advice: they came away feeling empowered.

That night, Marta returned home different. Not because the world had changed, but because something inside her had. For the first time in a long time, she felt part of something bigger. And she understood that empowerment isn't a goal: it's a process. A journey that begins within, but is best achieved when walked in a group.

And so, without realizing it, Marta stopped waiting for someone to give her permission.

He no longer needed to ask for power.

I was building it.