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| Swallowtail WI's craft entry for the Norfolk Show |
Political
activism is often seen as radical and potentially aggressive. The term conjures
up images of petitions, protests and rallies, but these are not the only ways
to raise awareness of important issues. Not everybody can or wants to take to
the streets to march, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care or are unwilling to
get involved. Fortunately there are alternatives, ways to use your skills and
experience to demonstrate in a form that’s right for you.
The
WI is known for its campaigning, it introduced the initial plan for Keep
Britain Tidy in 1954 and passed a resolution to ban smoking in public places
in 1964. The WI has a voice and it’s not afraid to use it.
The
problem with some forms of protest is that if people feel they’re being
preached to or shouted at, they can shut down and stop listening. Global
warming, domestic abuse or mental health are all subjects that are often met
with a cool reaction, especially when the person doesn’t realise that the
issues affect them or those they know.
That’s
why the WI uses craftivism to raise awareness in a subtler, but no less powerful
way. Craftivism combines craft with activism; it’s a way of voicing your
opinion through the use of crafts and creativity to influence long-term change.
It can be easy to dismiss it as unimportant or “airy-fairy” but the WI is
successfully leveraging its members’ skills to create stunning works of art and
start important conversations. With craftivism it doesn’t matter your
background, your political party or religion, everyone can get involved because
the issues cross party lines, they affect us all.
Norfolk
WI members have been involved in numerous craftivism projects. As part of our
long running campaign, No More Violence Against Women, we created a giant white
ribbon, because wearing a white ribbon demonstrates your pledge to never
commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. Our ribbon stood
ten feet tall and was inscribed with messages of support from people across the
county.
Every
February, WIs craft green hearts to raise awareness of climate change and “Show
the Love” for the places we want to protect. This year the hearts formed a
display on the railings outside St Peter Mancroft.
For
International Women’s Day 2016, Erpingham with Calthorpe WI encouraged visitors
to the Forum to sew inspirational words onto patches to make a quilt for Leeway,
a domestic abuse charity.
In
October, Buxton & District WI celebrated its 90th birthday by yarn bombing
their village, to bring the community together.
This
year, Swallowtail WI paid tribute to the centenary of some women in the UK getting
the vote. Members incorporated suffragettes and the colours Green, White and Violet
(Give Women Votes) into their Norfolk Show craft entry.
Norwich
All Saints WI (NASWI) made sensory bands and lap blankets for people with
Alzheimer’s and dementia, and crocheted red triangles to raise awareness of Female
Genital Mutilation. Members also help run Crafternoons at The Millennium
Library on the first Saturday of every month. The sessions are free to
attend, open to everyone and help to alleviate loneliness, which was last
year’s WI resolution.
“If
people can wear a brooch, make a creative display, paint a rock, hang a piece
of bunting they are able to let people know how they feel and what they want to
say without having to confront folk with words and printed messages,” said
Kathy Riviere from NASWI.
While
the finished project is important, the act of creation is almost more
important. It brings people together and gets them talking about the issue
while enjoying a relaxing activity. It’s easier to talk about the hard things while
your hands are busy and there’s tea and cake nearby. If this is the new face of
political activism then sign me up.
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