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Black Bodies, White Masks?: Straight Hair Culture and Natural Hair Politics Among Ghanaian Women

Amemate, Amelia AmeDela
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu157797167417396

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, American Culture Studies.
Hair straightening and the usage of hair extensions, particularly chemical relaxing and `Brazilian’ weaves are common and, in many cases, preferable over natural Afro-textured hair among African women in both the continent and the diaspora. The practice, which has been extensively studied from the African American perspective, is largely explained as (1) a result of internalized racism and self-hate and (2) simply stylization, versatility, and choice. However, even though diasporic and continental Africans share similar hairstyling practices, their historical and cultural situations are not the same. This study looks at Ghanaian women’s hair culture from a whiteness-decentered approach. The goal of the study was to research African women’s hair norms from continental African women’s perspective and find out whether their hair culture could be explained as a result of internalized racism and self-hate or stylization. The study interviewed thirty women. It asks why do they relax their hair and wear hair extensions: whether they are pursuing `white beauty’, or they have other reasons why they alter their hair. It found out that Ghanaian women do not relax their hair and wear hair extensions as a result of `mental slavery,’ and they do not hate their hair, or perceive white women’s appearance iconic. It also found that hairstyling among Ghanaian women is not simply for stylization; there are specific reasons why they relax their hair and wear weaves. These reasons include the attachment of privileges and benefits to straight hair and stereotypes and consequences to coily hair in Ghanaian society. Contrary to earlier studies that explain African women’s negative relationship with their hair as a result of colonialism and Euro-American influence on the continent, the study found out that negative attitudes displayed toward hairstyles like (dread)locks in many African societies stem from pre-colonial traditional cultural norms.
Timothy Messer-Kruse, PhD (Advisor)
Apollos Nwauwa, PhD (Committee Member)
181 p.
African American Studies; African Americans; African History; African Literature; African Studies; American Studies; Black History; Black Studies; Cultural Anthropology; Ethnic Studies; Gender; Gender Studies; Womens Studies
Natural Hair; Hair Straightening; Politics; African; Blackness; Ghana; Ghanaian Women; Hair; Aesthetics; Beauty; Afro-textured Hair

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Amemate, A. A. (2020). Black Bodies, White Masks?: Straight Hair Culture and Natural Hair Politics Among Ghanaian Women [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu157797167417396

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Amemate, Amelia. Black Bodies, White Masks?: Straight Hair Culture and Natural Hair Politics Among Ghanaian Women. 2020. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu157797167417396.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Amemate, Amelia. "Black Bodies, White Masks?: Straight Hair Culture and Natural Hair Politics Among Ghanaian Women." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu157797167417396

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu157797167417396
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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12