WOMEN

Women have been depicted as jealous and aggressively competitive towards each other in damaging ways since ancient mythology across many cultures. This expectation has evolved to be woven into the narratives told today. My collection ‘WOMEN’ considers the elements of social and spiritual wellbeing that are fundamental to the Hauora framework. As a woman, conversations with other women has been vital in my own personal growth and education. As I have gotten to understand my own social privilege, I have come to understand that conversations between women are increasingly negative experiences. For New Zealand women this is particularly true when there is a difference in identity such as race, sexuality, religious beliefs or socioeconomic difference [as stated in the New Zealand Wellness Report]. I have used the narrative of ‘The Judgement of Paris’ from Greek mythology as a way to illustrate this story of negative female relationships causing harm. This collection is designed with the hope of advocating for conversation between women and a respectful space. I don’t hope to propose a solution but rather advocate for kind conversation between women.