Indian Women and Empowerment: A Kleinian Approach

Abstract

The idea of women empowerment is often understood through the varied social contexts of individuals. There have been many attempts in understanding this notion among Western Educated Industrialized Rich and Democratic (WEIRD) women. A similar exploratory trajectory is seldom found in non-WEIRD samples of women especially those from South East Asian collectivistic cultures. The present study attempts to explore the concept of empowerment among middle-aged women from collectivistic cultures, who are often subjected to benevolent sexism from a social constructivist position. The paper would emphasize notions about the empowerment of ordinary women, particularly with regard to their occupational status. The discussion would be positioned in the cultural context of the Indian subcontinent where gender roles, norms and expectations define the concept of empowerment among women. A psychodynamic Kleinian approach involving object relations is adopted to elaborate on the occupational position of the participants where their interpersonal dynamics are explored.