From Drawings to Puppet Shows: Creating a Collective Space for HIV-Positive Women. Learning from Feminist-Participatory Action Research

Women with HIV are the real knower of their life, however, women living with HIV are highly stigmatized in Indonesia. As researchers we are, therefore, conscious of the sensitive nature of our research. The article explores the use of creative and visual methods to create a space with HIV-positive mothers through Feminist-Participatory Action Research (FPAR). FPAR was conducted in 2017 with a group of 18 women with HIV in Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia over four months. The combination of methods used included informal interviews and group discussions, with the use of creative and visual methods. Those HIV-positive women are referred to as co-researchers. Creating space, participation, and action are an integral part of FPAR. Some FPAR principles are learned during the research process in applying creative and visual methods. First, building trust is an on- going process even after the end of the fieldwork. The positionality as insider and outsider are interchangeable and may contribute to build up trust and rapport to get involved in this study. Secondly, giving a friendly and safe environment may contribute to enhance their privilege and creativity to create collective and individual actions- including drawings, mind-mapping, role-playing, puppet shows, and creating new lyrics of the famous traditional song (such as “Cuk Ma Ilang‟). Thirdly, we learn to honour the voice of HIV-positive women through partnership and a variety of creative representation from their expressed aspirations. By engaging creative and visual methods as principles of FPAR, their aspiration through their actions can travel visually, viscerally, and verbally to influence individuals and group of health workers, non-governmental organization, and HIV policy makers.