Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods
Relational approaches in research are now recognised as a potential pathway to fostering transformations in sustainability research. Drawing on insights from Chagga women at Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, we demonstrate how relationality can inform research methods used in sustainability science by un...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Ecosystems and People |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2025.2459108 |
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| author | Jasmine Pearson Joyce Joseph Massawe Antonia Patrick Mbaruku Ester Ibrahim Mramba Tuyeni H. Mwampamba Berta Martín-López |
| author_facet | Jasmine Pearson Joyce Joseph Massawe Antonia Patrick Mbaruku Ester Ibrahim Mramba Tuyeni H. Mwampamba Berta Martín-López |
| author_sort | Jasmine Pearson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Relational approaches in research are now recognised as a potential pathway to fostering transformations in sustainability research. Drawing on insights from Chagga women at Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, we demonstrate how relationality can inform research methods used in sustainability science by uncovering more holistic understanding of how people relate with, connect to, and value nature. Guided by a feminist ethos of care, participatory arts-based activities were held with Chagga women during focus group discussions to elicit a deeper understanding of their connections to nature. The findings reveal in-depth, contextual and embodied expressions of how Chagga women connect to nature through agricultural practices, culinary traditions, emotional experiences and shared instrumental and relational values of aesthetics, culture, reciprocity and stewardship. We advocate for relational and arts-based approaches in sustainability science that practice critical reflexivity, foster creative freedom and unravel human emotions. Such approaches can be harnessed to strengthen human-nature connectedness and promote nature’s diverse values in pursuit of sustainability transformations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b43f005b22d14b39b4cca5481d75e1a7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2639-5908 2639-5916 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosystems and People |
| spelling | doaj-art-b43f005b22d14b39b4cca5481d75e1a72025-08-20T02:29:26ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEcosystems and People2639-59082639-59162025-12-0121110.1080/26395916.2025.2459108Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methodsJasmine Pearson0Joyce Joseph Massawe1Antonia Patrick Mbaruku2Ester Ibrahim Mramba3Tuyeni H. Mwampamba4Berta Martín-López5Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI), Faculty of Sustainability Science, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Lüneburg, GermanyNGO TanzMont Lutheran Parish Kidia, Moshi, TanzaniaIndependent artist, Moshi, TanzaniaThe College of African Wildlife Management (CAWM), Mweka, Moshi, TanzaniaInstitute for Ecosystems & Sustainability Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Morelia, Michoacán, MexicoSocial-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI), Faculty of Sustainability Science, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Lüneburg, GermanyRelational approaches in research are now recognised as a potential pathway to fostering transformations in sustainability research. Drawing on insights from Chagga women at Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, we demonstrate how relationality can inform research methods used in sustainability science by uncovering more holistic understanding of how people relate with, connect to, and value nature. Guided by a feminist ethos of care, participatory arts-based activities were held with Chagga women during focus group discussions to elicit a deeper understanding of their connections to nature. The findings reveal in-depth, contextual and embodied expressions of how Chagga women connect to nature through agricultural practices, culinary traditions, emotional experiences and shared instrumental and relational values of aesthetics, culture, reciprocity and stewardship. We advocate for relational and arts-based approaches in sustainability science that practice critical reflexivity, foster creative freedom and unravel human emotions. Such approaches can be harnessed to strengthen human-nature connectedness and promote nature’s diverse values in pursuit of sustainability transformations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2025.2459108Dominic LenziIndigenous and local knowledge (ILK)feminist ethics of carenature valuationrelational valueshuman-nature connectedness |
| spellingShingle | Jasmine Pearson Joyce Joseph Massawe Antonia Patrick Mbaruku Ester Ibrahim Mramba Tuyeni H. Mwampamba Berta Martín-López Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods Ecosystems and People Dominic Lenzi Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) feminist ethics of care nature valuation relational values human-nature connectedness |
| title | Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods |
| title_full | Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods |
| title_fullStr | Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods |
| title_short | Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods |
| title_sort | chagga women´s connections with nature fostering relationality through arts based methods |
| topic | Dominic Lenzi Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) feminist ethics of care nature valuation relational values human-nature connectedness |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26395916.2025.2459108 |
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