Rethinking Women's Empowerment

This article examines how orthodox ideas of empowerment have changed for women living in contexts of insecurity. Drawing on fieldwork interviews on women, peace and security in Fiji, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste, the article reveals a range of culturally different ideas on empowerment that emphasise the community. The interview material raises new questions about the centrality of security to many women's concepts of empowerment. The article suggests holistic ways to rethink context-driven empowerment within broad-based notions of peace and security.