With this interpretive study, we sought to understand how weaving as an activity contributed to constructing women handloom weavers’ cultural identity in the region of Ri-Bhoi, a district in Meghalaya, India, by exploring weavers’ experiences through changing tides of modernization in the handloom industry of the region. We adopted a lens of symbolic interaction to consider the ways in which interactions within the Ri-Bhoi cultural context contributed to meanings about the women’s weaving activities and their cultural identities. An ethnographic approach was implemented using participant observation, field notes/journaling, and informal and formal interviews to collect relevant data. Analyses revealed four themes representing the value that Ri-Bhoi women weavers attached to various aspects of their weaving tradition, which in turn, supported their cultural identities: (a) maintaining the tradition of weaving through acquisition and exchange of knowledge, (b) securing social support from family and community, (c) maintaining the tradition of weaving through creation of textiles that symbolize tribe and culture, and (d) achieving a sense of fulfillment (i.e., joy, happiness, and pride). Further exploration revealed that the modernization of the Ri-Bhoi handloom industry increased engagement of women in weaving and their passion to preserve their tradition, which further strengthened their connection to weaving. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

中文翻译：

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通过在Ri-Bhoi女织工之间进行编织来构建文化身份：一种象征性的互动主义方法

通过这项解释性研究，我们试图通过改变织布厂现代化进程来探索织布工的经验，从而了解织布作为一项活动如何有助于在印度梅加拉亚邦里布伊地区建立女性手织织布工的文化特征。该地区的手摇织机行业。我们采用象征性互动的视角来考虑Ri-Bhoi文化语境中的互动如何影响妇女编织活动及其文化身份的意义。一项人种学方法是使用参与者的观察，现场笔记/新闻记录以及非正式和正式的采访来收集相关数据来实施的。分析发现四个主题代表了Ri-Bhoi女织工对其织造传统各个方面的重视，而这反过来，支持他们的文化身份：（a）通过获取和交换知识来保持编织的传统，（b）从家庭和社区获得社会支持，（c）通过创造象征部落和文化的纺织品来保持编织的传统，以及（d）达到成就感（即快乐，幸福和自豪）。进一步的探索表明，Ri-Bhoi手织机行业的现代化提高了妇女参与编织的热情，并增强了他们对保留传统的热情，从而进一步加强了她们与编织的联系。涵义和未来的研究方向进行了讨论。（c）通过创造象征部落和文化的纺织品来维持编织的传统，并且（d）达到一种满足感（即快乐，幸福和自豪）。进一步的探索表明，Ri-Bhoi手织机行业的现代化提高了妇女参与编织的热情，并增强了他们对保留传统的热情，从而进一步加强了她们与编织的联系。涵义和未来的研究方向进行了讨论。（c）通过创造象征部落和文化的纺织品来维持编织的传统，并且（d）达到一种满足感（即快乐，幸福和自豪）。进一步的探索表明，Ri-Bhoi手织机行业的现代化提高了妇女参与编织的热情，并增强了他们对保留传统的热情，从而进一步加强了她们与编织的联系。涵义和未来的研究方向进行了讨论。