Art courses in photography, literature, and creative writing provide the abused women of the impoverished northeast region of Brazil with a new method of expression and increased self-esteem.
In Brazil, where a woman is beaten every 15 seconds (70% of the cases occur within the home), the outcome is low self-esteem which impacts women's ability to succeed in their workplace, in their homes, and in their communities. In northeast Brazil, the most violent region, impoverished women have few resources. Art courses, in mediums such as poetry writing and photography, provide safe communication methods for these women, while boosting their self-esteem by acquiring a new skill.
Women photograph their daily activities and their families; write poetry; learn about art history, and discuss the female characters in the stories they read. Courses may end in an exposition of the work created.
Abused women learn an art, and are exposed to positive female role models in literature. Recognition of their talent increases self-esteem and enables women to speak up for their legal right not to be abused.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
