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Female veteran advocacy through public art exhibits
Thesis   Open access

Female veteran advocacy through public art exhibits

Brittany Joy Osteen
Master of Arts (M.A.), Drexel University
Aug 2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/mj5a-c302
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Abstract

Art therapy Women veterans--Mental health
Stigma towards posttraumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, mental health, and physical health needs have hindered female veterans from receiving the proper help they need. Art therapy has been a growing form of advocating for veteran mental health needs and has been used to help veterans process traumatic memories and other prevalent mental illnesses in a nonverbal way. By using art materials as a therapeutic tool, art therapy aids in self-expression and exploration. This project explores the use of art therapy at an all-female veteran community center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Masks and artwork created by the veterans were exhibited in two different art shows. These public art exhibits brought the needs of female veterans to the public and further expressed the need for veteran advocacy while self-advocating for themselves.

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