Women then looked at the relationship between political action and structural change. They identified lack of power, money, and political will as the major barriers to making structural change. The list of negatives seemed overwhelming, so they brainstormed some positive supports: friends, family, strength, clarity, self-esteem, awareness, literacy, confidence, other women, this project, our programs. They noted what would be positive if only it existed: childcare, transportation, space, community support.

Aisla Thomson, "self-esteem," chastises Cathy Short during a practice of the theatre piece

As women began again to talk about the performance piece, they realized they needed to reflect the themes that they identified in the program documentation. They explored them through movement and body sculpture. They tried to make concrete the concept of political action as sisterhood. They returned again and again to the spiral as an image of women's growth and change. They used a candle to express growing awareness, enlightenment - how easily it can be extinguished and how willingly other women will move to relight it.

A few women worked with their ambivalence around the question. Why should we have to justify that we have done work that "only" leads to personal growth and change? Personal growth and change is a good enough beginning. Sometimes it is a good enough ending.

This transcript is taken from the video tape
of the performance later in the day.

I

There are three parts to this presentation. The first part is about individual growth. Women move to the centre of the floor, make individual statements about personal growth and what that means to them. They then hold their places.