Human rights have been guaranteed to every human being equally by law which provides human beings the
opportunity of enjoying various freedoms, rights and resources. Everybody gets the right to be treated equally the
right of expression, right of peaceful assembly, right to engage in political activities, to engage in a good employment, to obtain information, to receive education and acquire property before the law. Through these rights a
person can get power through a number of ways. Power differs from person to person, situation to situation and
the manner it is used and its source.
This can be categorized according to the manner in which power is used in human / social relationships. Forceful
or dictatorial power or exerting power through threat, undue use of power, transactional power (allowances, gifts,
bribes) Power that is centred on policies (relevant laws, policies, regulations, values, assessment, fairness)
According to concepts of Gender, more power has been vested in males than in females and according to social
customs and restrictions males enjoy more freedom, more rights, more opportunities and more resources. In this
context, men who wield more power often harass, exploit or victimize women or perpetrate terror on her. The class
that wields more power harasses the class with less power and similar to that powerful communities harassing less
powerful communities, elders harassing less powerful young and the powerful rulers harassing the ruled take
place everywhere. If the power of a government, family or institution can be maintained in a balanced manner
even to some extent, every member is benefitted.
References
Karl, Marilee, (1995) Women and Empowerment: Participation and Decision Making, London and New Jersey:
Zed Books.
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