A Feminist Analysis of Empowerment and Community in Art Education

In this article the concept of empowerment is examined from the perspective of a feminist approach to art education. The argument is made that any definition of empowerment which depoliticizes the goals and processes of education is problematic. Empowerment cannot be understood separately from theories of power, freedom, and community because it is only with respect to a vision of political community that we can clearly define what it means to be empowered. In this paper, one way of linking empowerment, power, freedom, and community is proposed in order to advance the project of a critical feminist art education. Finally, three closely related goals which are fundamental to the development of a feminist conception of empowerment in art education are identified.