Crafting Communities: Promoting Inclusion, Empowerment, and Learning between Older Women

Abstract

Crafting Communities: Promoting inclusion, empowerment and learning between older womenWhile social policy and planning documents are replete with ominous warnings about the cost of an ageing population, this article tells a different story about the productive and self sustaining networks that exist amongst older women in the community who do craftwork. From our research conducted in Victoria, Australia during 2007-2008 we discovered a resilient and committed group of older women quietly and steadily contributing to community fundraising, building social networks and providing learning opportunities to each other in diverse ways. Through our conversations with nine craftswomen we have been able to articulate clear links between the theory and models commonly espoused in the community development (CD) literature and the life enriching practices used in organising informal community craft group activities. From our interviews with the older women we provide evidence of sustained participation, the generation of social capital, and the fostering of life-long learning. While none of the women we spoke to were trained in CD and did not use language commonly associated with feminist ideology the relationship between the informal group work with principles of empowerment and self efficacy were unmistakeable. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our findings for critical social work practice.

Entrepreneurship and self-employment for mature-aged people

“…Wider social inclusion of mature aged entrepreneurs in national and corporate programs and strategies, as well as a wider acceptance of mature-age entrepreneurship in the broader society, is needed (Clarkin et al, 2012). This can assist in overcoming possible social isolation, discrimination, and having the benefit of wider inclusion on the workforce and economy (Maidment & MacFarlane, 2011). Those who desire to continue to play an active role in the social economy can access more opportunities for interaction and social involvement, which can lead to a higher quality of life and overall life satisfaction (Maritz & Laferriere, 2016).…”

Bien-Être, Développement Du Pouvoir D’agir Des Personnes Et Des Collectivités Et Apprentissage Tout Au Long De La Vie

“…Ces constats conduisent à identifier un premier défi pour les praticiens de la relation désireux de soutenir le bien-être et l'apprentissage tout au long de la vie : contribuer à la création de liens d'interdépendance et de lieux de participation significatifs propices aux apprentissages (Bélanger, 2015). Le soutien social et l'intégration dans des réseaux significatifs permettent de développer des liens d'entraide et de réciprocité qui contribuent au bien-être (Maidment et Macfarlane, 2011). Les praticiens de la relation sont donc invités à valoriser ces ressources que sont ces liens qui se développent entre les personnes et à remettre en question un discours où la valeur repose surtout sur des termes marchands (Maidment et Macfarlane, 2011).…”

“…Le soutien social et l'intégration dans des réseaux significatifs permettent de développer des liens d'entraide et de réciprocité qui contribuent au bien-être (Maidment et Macfarlane, 2011). Les praticiens de la relation sont donc invités à valoriser ces ressources que sont ces liens qui se développent entre les personnes et à remettre en question un discours où la valeur repose surtout sur des termes marchands (Maidment et Macfarlane, 2011). Ces derniers sont amenés à prendre une distance avec ce discours, combiné à la prégnance des thèses associées au néolibéralisme qui entraînent une plus grande responsabilisation dévolue aux individus pour améliorer leur sort et faire face à l'incertitude.…”

Hand-made well-being: Textile crafts as a source of eudaimonic well-being

“…There seems to be a need for embodied interaction with the material world and to make things by hand as a departure from conventional paid work and domestic duties (Grace & Gandolfo, 2014;Jackson, 2010). It has also been found that the majority of craft practitioners continue their leisure through all stages of life and into old age (Kenning, 2015;Lamont & Ranaweera, 2019;Maidment & Macfarlane, 2011).…”