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whethersheislovedforherselforforhowsheperformshave
power?Doesaboywhomustregisterforthedraftateighteenand
isshotthroughthefaceinVietnam
2
havepower?Doesabeautifulwomanwhomarriesadoctorhave
power,whensheneverdiscoversherowntalents?Whichofthese
peoplehavepoweroverhisorherownlife?
Farrell,1988:10Powerisconstructedasthecapacityofapersonto
accessfivethingsonalevelequaltotheir
expectationsanddesires:
Externalrewards(e.g.income,possessions,status)
Internalrewards(e.g.emotionalrelease,positiveselfimage)
Interpersonalcontact(attention,affection,loveandrecognition)
Physicalhealth(wellbeing,attractivenessandintelligence)
Sexualfulfilment(satisfactionofdesireandenjoymentofsensual
pleasures)Thisconceptualisation,therefore,putsinternal
rewards,interpersonalcontactandsexualfulfilmentonapar
withexternalrewardsinunderstandingthelandscapeofpower.It
alsomakesitpossibletotheorisethatapersonsocialisedtoearn
income,possessionsandstatusthattheydonotneedordesire(to
fulfilthedesiresofanother)isdisempoweredratherthan
empowered.Farrellspositiondrew(andcontinuestodraw)onthe
feministtraditionbyembracingthegoalofemancipationfromsex
rolescombinedwithgreatersexualfreedom.Hisfindingsfrom
interviewsandfocusgroupsessions,however,revealagrowing
anxietyamongstmenaboutworkandwomen(muchasBetty
Friedanfoundamongstwomenin1963whenshepublishedThe
FeminineMystique).Hissuggestionthatmensacrificetheir
personalwishesforhigherpay,andareoftendisempoweredbythe
healthproblemsassociatedwiththeirpositioninsociety,endeda
periodduringwhichhewasthr