Embroidery and textile narratives as community resilience in a group of women weavers in the village of San Miguel (Colombia)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of women-led initiatives on community resilience in San Miguel, Colombia, after the reported armed conflict that occurred between 1990 and 2004. I investigate the importance of embroidery and textile production in community resilience and the restoration of social fabric and its significance in preserving the historical memory of this community. I analyze the historical context of violence and conflict in the region, to later examine theoretical concepts such as trauma, collective trauma and community resilience as the central topics. By focusing on the interaction between individual, social, and cultural factors and symbolic analysis of embroidery, this study enriches our understanding of different processes of building community resilience in a community deeply affected by armed conflict. As a research methodology, I used thematic analysis, interviews, participant observation, and symbolic analysis of community-made artifacts.