Contributions of community theater to the strengthening of social identity, sense of belonging and community agency, from a feminist perspective: reflections from an experience in El Polígono´s neighborhood of Quinta Normal

(Reflexiones teórico-experienciales basadas en el montaje del texto Jovita Poligonal)

Abstract

This document started from an experience as a Drama Workshop Teacher, under a community and gender approach, which took place between 2016 and 2018. The classes were held close to El Polígono neighborhood of Quinta Normal, and the project purpose was ro represent the local history of that territory, highlighting some of its emblematic neighbors voices. In this way, the story was based on Flérida Jacobite Vallejos Matus, better known as Jovita. She was part of a robust community life. With a prolific and almost unprecedented work, Jovita embodied a social representation of different social groups: women, artists, working class people, social activists and elderlies. Her biography was a projection of many talented women, who due structural systemic reasons, did not achieve a deserved recognition. The script included some of her poems, turning it into a lyrical-dramatic intersection that brought together her biography, local and country history. After a long trajectory on similar projects without any written record, suddenly, I felt compelled to systematize this experience to reflect on What could be the possible contributions of community theater to the strengthening of social identity, sense of belonging and community agency? Placing in a women group from the aforementioned neighborhood. The paper seeks to expand women narratives under an interdisciplinary view, nourished by community theater, community psychology and intersectional feminism field. Finally, I share appreciations and methodological suggestions, from a qualitative perspective, not generalizable.