3.9 Power analysis of your change goal

Described image
Members of Abante Kababayen (Forward, Women), a women’s organization, and Joy Lumawod (center) display the equipment Centre for Disaster Preparedness provided their town. His dedication to women’s rights has earned him their trust and friendship, Philippines.
Show description|Hide description

Members of Abante Kababayen women's organisation gather together, surrounding Joy Lumawood. They are all smiling. One woman shouts into a megaphone, while another raises her hands in the air.

Members of Abante Kababayen (Forward, Women), a women’s organization, and Joy Lumawod (center) display the equipment Centre for Disaster ...

We have looked at two sets of guiding frameworks shown below, the Four Expressions of Power tool and the Forms of Power tool.

Described image
Show description|Hide description

Four expressions of power. 1: Power over: positive or negative authority, control over individuals, groups or institutions; can be backed by force. 2: Power to: power that comes from having or developing skills, knowledge and tools, and the capacity to use them effectively to influence others. 3: Power with: power that comes from collective action, alliance and joining together to plan, build and act. 4: Power from within: confidence that comes from self-esteem, a belief in one’s right to act and occupy space and be treated well by others, and the belief that change is possible. Forms of power: Visible power: observable power relations negotiated through formal institutions; Hidden power: control over those with visible power through behind-the-scenes action/influence; Invisible power: norms, beliefs, ideologies, privilege, and culture that shape people’s sense of themselves and their world.

Now it is your chance to apply power analysis to the change issue you are working on. Using both tools, identify the relevant expressions or forms of power you will need to take into account as you develop your change action.

Activity 3.3: Power analysis of your change goal

Timing: Allow 15 minutes

Using the four expressions of power on the issue you would like to change, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Who has the most power on the issue? What gives them that power and how do they use it?
  • Who has the least power?
  • What happens when power dynamics are challenged?
  • What power do you have to effect change? How can you develop that power further?

Using the forms of power on the issue you would like to change, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What aspects of visible power should you be focusing on?
  • How does hidden power operate on your issue?
  • What aspects of invisible power do you consider most relevant?
  • What are the power dynamics related to gender, race, sexuality or other aspects of identity that you would want to understand more about in relation to your issue?

Write your thoughts on the expressions and/or forms of power you have identified as most relevant to your change action and why in the free text box, in the Make Change Happen Plan or in your own notebook.

To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Discussion

The two frameworks for power analysis aim to help you consider power dynamics that you may not have previously identified. Not all change actions need to cover all these expressions and forms of power, but when power is considered alongside the overall change goal, the likelihood of success increases. Even if you don't achieve your goal as planned, just beginning to engage deliberately with certain power dynamics can often be a positive outcome in itself.

3.8 Forms of power

3.10 Summary of Unit 3