Women’s associations and the well-being of their members: From mutual support to full citizenship

Abstract

This study investigated the goals and achievements of women members of organizations active within the city and province of Naples in recent years to detect how they acted in their local context to promote community health and wellbeing. Therefore, 39 representatives from feminist-oriented associations were interviewed to depict the effectiveness of women’s activities and their social impact. The textual materials, obtained by their transcripts, were categorized according to the ecological well-being model. The interviews revealed that whilst the active involvement of women in associations served to empower their wellbeing at both individual and relational levels, their action had poor effects on the collective context to which they belonged. This research, therefore, offers some useful indications regarding the actions of women in active groups and the related individual wellbeing, but at the same time, highlighted their potential ineffectiveness in having a transformative role at the collective community level.