An Aesthetic Review of New Mothers as the Ultimate Weaver: Achieving a Harmonious Integration of Prevalent Discourses and Lived Experience

ABSTRACT

Experiences in new motherhood are influenced by popular sociological discourses and ideologies. The narratives promoted in these discourses may or may not fit with the subjective experience of the mother. Lacking experience in motherhood, the new mother may misguidedly accept these mainstream discourses and ideologies as standard. The process of adapting and blending sociological narratives to fit with lived experience is similar to the art of weaving. This article, an original argument grounded in relevant literature, explores how new mothers can develop a balanced weave of popular social discourse and her subjective experience by: accepting motherhood as a creative process, being aware of the powerful influence of social constructs on her perceptions, and recognizing the influence of her body/biology on her lived experience. The aesthetic narrative of the spider, the ultimate weaver, accompanies the research presented. Complementary art therapy interventions such as weaving, art boxes, and dolls are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Art
• art therapy
• balance
• counseling
• creativity in counseling
• empowerment
• new motherhood
• social norms
• weaving

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vahini Govender

Vahini Govender has a Masters of Counselling and an Advanced Diploma in Art Therapy. She is in private practice as a registered clinical counsellor with Bright Insight Therapy, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.