ART THERAPY AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN BEDOUIN SOCIETY: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v9i2.266Keywords:
art therapy, psychological well-being, women's empowerment, Bedouin women, community participation, qualitative researchAbstract
Art therapy has emerged as a form of culturally appropriate intervention that promotes psychological well-being through creative expression. However, its role in empowering women in culturally conservative communities is known to be minimal. This study examined the experiences of Bedouin women who participated in a culturally appropriate art therapy program and how they interpreted its relationship to psychological well-being, women’s empowerment, and community participation. The approach adopted in the research process is the interpretive qualitative approach and thematic reflexive analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and analysis of artworks made by the participants. Ten themes emerged from the findings that demonstrate that art therapy promoted emotional regulation, transformed traumatic experiences into opportunities for personal growth, and reduced social stigma, while simultaneously strengthening personal boundaries and improving role negotiation, as well as fostering collective support and encouraging adaptive resilience. Overall, participants described art therapy as a culturally appropriate intervention that supported psychological well-being and personal empowerment while facilitating greater community participation. This study contributes to the professional literature by offering a culturally informed understanding of art therapy in the Bedouin community, presenting an integrated explanatory framework that links psychological well-being, women’s empowerment, and community participation.References
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