Discusses empowerment--the idea of pushing decision-making authority down the management hierarchy to the workers. Looks at myths surrounding the concept and suggests steps that bring people closer to full empowerment by gradually introducing them to new tasks. (JOW)

Uses Jurgen Habermas' theory of communicative action to explore the issue of empowerment. Describes a communicative situation now common in public life (scientific and technical forces arrayed against citizenry). Applies Habermas' theory to that situation. Claims that empowerment remains only a communicative ideal. (HB)

Considers advantages and disadvantages of four different sociopolitical approaches to multicultural studies: corporate, liberal, essentialist, and radical democratic. Suggests the use of a radical democratic perspective because this approach acknowledges the need for changes in the power structures of society. Offers suggestions for designing a…

Criticizes the idolatry implicit in concepts of inclusion and empowerment in education and advocates the prophetic pragmatism of Cornel West (1989) as an alternative philosophical framework for education that responds to the same underlying moral purpose. Prophetic pragmatism offers a less-divisive plan for multicultural education than does the…

The Consumer-Directed Theory of Empowerment (CDTE) is presented as a model for guiding the development and evaluation of disability policy and rehabilitation services. The major tenet of CDTE is that increased consumer direction in disability policy formulation and rehabilitation service delivery will lead to increased community integration,…

Older adults can be empowered through the development of critical thinking and leadership abilities. Such development enables them to make continuing contributions to society and promotes better mental and physical health. (SK)

Describes in detail the steps necessary to develop a Gallery Walk, a classroom project that was used to foster shared-learning, communal inquiry and individual empowerment. (NH)

Presents a comprehensive evaluation framework and applies it to a family empowerment program in Montana that was developed as an aspect of welfare reform. The framework encompasses seven areas from developing objectives to developing a sound conceptual framework. (SLD)

Developed an instrument to measure empowering leader behavior (study 1, n=1,309) and studied the relationship of the instrument to several theoretically relevant variables (study 2, n=84). Confirmatory factor analyses support a six-dimension model of empowering leader behavior. Psychological empowerment mediated the relationship between six…

Presents a therapeutic model in which the mental-health counselor functions as a play therapist with children who have been sexually abused. The therapy is based on existential, client-centered, and developmental theories and it relieves the emotional distress of sexual abuse through a variety of expressive-play materials. (RJM)

A study of four people enrolled in General National Vocational Qualifications courses shows that career and educational choices are constrained by culture and by issues of status and prestige. Simply giving choices does not address social inequalities, market forces, or status differentials, making GNVQs less empowering than intended. (SK)

Examines dominant features of feminist pedagogy as it is constructed in nursing education; explores the perceived superiority of feminist pedagogy over traditional models of education; and focuses on the problematic rhetoric and conceptions of empowerment. (JOW)

Drama workshops focused on empowerment were used in a master's program, a management certification program, and management development for women academics. Evaluations indicated that strong feelings and reactions were raised and sufficient time must be allocated for debriefing. Precourse preparation is essential. (Contains 28 references.) (SK)

A survey of 100 women and 14 literacy teachers/administrators in Tanzania suggests that literacy is considered an abstract value and not a tool for women's empowerment. Women's desire to learn is often frustrated by program content that does not reflect political, social, cultural, and economic realities. (SK)

Discusses student-led parent conferences at Metcalf Laboratory School. Finds that students can learn how to reflect on their learning, evaluate their progress, and communicate this information to their parents in a conference situation. Concludes that students were empowered and that student-led conferences were a good way to use guided…