Craftivism: The new face of political activism

I've been writing for the local newspaper for the past couple of years. It's fun to write in a different style to my normal fiction writing.

My monthly column is part of the WI Week column and my pieces are generally related to life in the Womens' Institute.

I was asked to do a piece for the Opinions Section. I was excited, and a little nervous. It felt like a much bigger piece and it was, literally, 650 words instead of my usual 350. It doesn't sound much but I wanted to get a lot into my piece. 

I decided to write about craftivisim and the WI. It's a realtively modern term but women have been using crafting to protest for generations. Just think of the suffragette banners.

Craftivism is a form of activism, typically incorporating elements of anti-capitalism, environmentalism, solidarity, or third-wave feminism, that is centered on practices of craft - or what can traditionally be referred to as "domestic arts".
​Craftivism - Wikipedia

​I learnt a lot about the ways women in the WI are using their crafting skills to raise awareness of some incredibly important issues. In fact, I've been involved with quite a few but never realised they would be considered craftivisim. 
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​I've crocheted green hearts for Show the Love and inscribed messages on white ribbons to support victims of domestic abuse. Recently, I helped celebrate 100 years of some women getting the vote in the UK, by encouraging my WI to include suffragette colours and figures into our craft show entry. I made the sash for the figure in the picture above (and two other Playmobil figures).

I really enjoy crafting and if I can make something beautiful and make a statement about causes I'm passionate about, then I can't think of anything better.

​​My article was picked up by the national WI blog and you can read it here...