Beadwork

As with the other creative methods, I felt that beadwork would provide a hands-on opportunity to engage the women in conversation about their private selves. I brought in a selection of beads and lacing and provided instructions to create a necklace, bracelet, or anklet that held special meaning for participants. I suggested that they choose beads as follows:

• One bead for the center to represent their spiritual self
• Two beads placed on either side of the centre bead to represent family
• Four beads on either side of the family beads to represent friendships
• Three beads on either side of friendship to represent community or other supports.

In planning the exercise, I was aware that women who did not have family stability might not want to include beads to represent family. I was ready to encourage women to create significances other than the ones I suggested.

Participants chose beads in an assortment of colors, sizes and shapes and selected coordinating lacing. Once completed, the beadwork bore special importance to the one who created it. The women shared the reasons behind their choices of beads:

Oh I plan to wear this for a long time. I like bracelets and this one is special.

Now I know all about my bracelet and when I look at it I will think of my family far away.

It's a good idea—I remembered a special friend and put her friendship on here.

Guided Discussion

I often encouraged discussion before or after other activities, but sometimes a guided discussion was an activity in itself. As an example, I asked participants to write down one positive quality of each of the other group members on small slips of paper. Then the slips of paper were given to each participant, who read them out in a sharing circle.

Many with a poor self-concept may be unable to accept a compliment or praise due to the internal voice fighting the idea.