Australian Journal of Adult Learning - Volume 62 - Issue 1 - A gendered therapeutic learning landscape - Responding creatively to a pandemic

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Aran

A gendered therapeutic learning landscape is explored through a thematic analysis of a focus group interview with regional women participating in a virtual crafting group during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study shows how craft supported wellbeing and lifelong learning by enabling connection through community of practice, shared skills, and meaningful quilting projects. Findings highlight implications for societies facing rising stress, mental illness, and uncertainty about the future.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background

Lifelong learning

Australian Journal of Adult Learning Volume 62, Number 1 A gendered therapeutic learning landscape: Responding creatively to a pandemic Annette Foley Helen Weadon Sharon McDonough Rachel Taylor Crafting has occupied the hands and minds of women over many centuries providing vital connections with cultural skills and with community. While the COVID-19 pandemic has isolated women in their homes, it has also provided opportunities for women to reconnect to crafting through virtual spaces. This paper draws on a thematic analysis of a focus group interview examining the experiences of regional women participating in a crafting group and identifies the ways in which they used craft to support their wellbeing. Drawing on the concept of therapeutic landscapes, the paper highlights that connection in a virtual craft group supports lifelong learning and wellbeing, brings women together in support through a community of women’s practice and facilitates opportunities for producing meaningful and commemorative quilting projects This finding has implications for a society experiencing unprecedented levels of stress, mental illness and anxiety about the future. A gendered therapeutic learning landscape: Responding creatively to a pandemic 9 Keywords: crafting, therapeutic landscapes, women, COVID-19, virtual spaces, lifelong learning, wellbeing Introduction Research into the relationship between leisure activities such as arts and craft activities and links to wellbeing particularly in older people has gained traction over several decades (Burt & Atkinson, 2012; Collier & Wayment, 2018; Corkhilletal., 2014; Gandolfo & Grace, 2010, Pöllänen, 2015a, 2015b; Riley et al., 2013).The association between wellbeing and craft activities points to a complex interplay offactors, such as the allencompassing aspects of crafting, learning materials and techniques and the sense of accomplishment and recognition by others that is gained through creating objects (Gandolfo & Grace, 2010). Several ways of conceptualizing wellbeing stemming from crafting have emerged from existing research, with Maidment and Macfarlane (2009) describing how a person “having interests and being interested in craft as a leisure activity has been described as comprising both an emotional benefit and a disposition, which creates flow-on effects to other experiences of well-being”(p.17).For Pöllänen and Weissman-Hanski (2020), crafting as a long-term pursuit links to wellbeing through the benefits of giving meaning in people’s lives. A notion of community or collective wellbeing has been explored by researchers including Riley (2008), who reported how being a guild member cultivates a collective sense of self, which contributes to quality of life, and perceptions of health and wellbeing. Participating in acrafting group may promote engagement with a community of people who share similar characteristics and values, opening up opportunities for positive social interactions and the benefits of belonging (Riley, Corkhill & Morris, 2013).Court’s (2020) research describes how valuable social connections can be forged via knitting circles:“Making friends is not necessarily easy but social knitting, as an accessible and creative activity with regular meeting times, may make it easier to do so”(p. 287). Specifically, leisure activities such as craft are positively associated with mental wellbeing in the elderly with benefits including personal growth, mastery, confidence and social connectedness as well as confidence and personal development (Burt & Atkinson, 2012) . 10 Annette Foley, Helen Weadon, Sharon McDonough and Rachel Taylor This paper draws on the concept of therapeutic learning landscapes (Gesler, 1992) where community members come together in communities of practice to share skills, learn life skills, develop friendships and in doing so derive health and wellbeing benefits. The community space that is discussed in this paper is deliberately gendered and is lo

FAQs

How does the study connect crafting with wellbeing?

The paper argues that connection through a virtual craft group supports lifelong learning and wellbeing, helping women use craft to sustain their wellbeing during isolation.

What role does community play in the therapeutic learning landscape?

Community members come together in communities of practice to share skills, learn life skills, develop friendships, and gain health and wellbeing benefits through shared crafting.

Why is lifelong learning important in the context of this paper?

Lifelong learning is framed as an ongoing, supportive process across the lifespan, and crafting is positioned as part of informal lifelong learning that can mitigate social isolation and support wellbeing.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Aran