Transnational Media Articulations of Ghanaian Women: Mapping Shifting Returnee Identities in an

231 Pages·2017·0.77 MB·English

Transnational Media Articulations of Ghanaian Women: Mapping Shifting Returnee
Identities in an Online Web Series

A dissertation presented to
the faculty of
the Scripps College of Communication of Ohio University

In partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
Doctor of Philosophy

Benedine Azanu
April 2017
© 2017 Benedine Azanu. All Rights Reserved.
This dissertation titled
Transnational Media Articulations of Ghanaian Women: Mapping Shifting Returnee
Identities in an Online Web Series

by
BENEDINE AZANU

has been approved for
the School of Media Arts & Studies
and the Scripps College of Communication

Steve Howard
Professor of Media Arts and Studies

Scott Titsworth
Dean, Scripps College of Communication
ii
Abstract
AZANU, BENEDINE, Ph.D., April 2017, Media Arts and Studies
Transnational Media Articulations of Ghanaian Women: Mapping Shifting Returnee
Identities in an Online Web Series
Director of Dissertation: Steve Howard
This study examines returnee African women’s identity articulations in the web
series An African City. Specifically, the research focuses on the appropriation of a U.S.
popular cultural text perceived as more powerful by a Ghanaian producer in the creation
of counter-discourses, cultural spaces, and identities in alternative media. Using multi-
theoretical lenses – a framework of in-betweeness - the study is grounded in the theory of
articulation to examine how the web series An African City uses Sex And The City in
response to Western monolithic representations of African women. A social constructivist
framework that considers identities as shifting subjectivities are interrogated through the
theoretical lenses of transnational postcolonial feminism, using a framework of in-
betweeness informed by hybridity and conviviality as intempestivity. The study makes
theoretical links to transnational postcolonial feminisms, invoked by specific
intersections of returnee African women. Using articulation analyses, thematic links are
made between the series and in-depth interview with the series producer and focus group
interviews with African women in Ghana and American diaspora. The argument is made
that a continuum of ‘outsidenes’ and ‘insideness’ informs any system of identity and
belongingness where identities shift ever so often. It is further argued that while An
African City web series represents one of many re-configured identity formations
iii
embedded within Eurocentric African women’s identities that conform to globalizing
homogenization of capitalist cultural productions, the series creates and occupies a space
of conviviality that engenders dissensus in the distribution of Ghanaian women’s
representation in particular and Black women in general. Examining diasporan African
women identity articulations is important particularly when African women use media
technologies to represent themselves in alternative media spaces in a bid to enrich
research on stereotypical portrayals of African women. Also, the tendency to focus on
more “serious” non-fiction genres like news, to the detriment of those genres considered
fictional and often taken for granted by their entertainment value, warrants such a
research.

iv
Dedication

Anastasia Abla Addo,
I wonder what would have been.

v
Acknowledgments
My journey through higher education has been possible because of the varied
support systems I been blessed with. Indeed, this journey has not been mine alone, and I
owe a debt of gratitude to all who contributed in every way.
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my academic advisor, Dr.
Steve Howard for his support and guidance throughout my studies at Ohio University.
His encouragement, guidance and cooperation throughout writing this dissertation
extends beyond Ohio University. I would also like to acknowledge my committee: Dr.
Jenny Nelson, Professor Emeritus Raymie McKerrow and Dr. Edna Wangui. Thank you
for supporting my intellectual interests and growth. Dr. Andy Ofori-Birikorang, you were
there from the beginning of this journey and I appreciate all the encouragement and
continued support. I am grateful to Dr. Diane Ciekawy, Dr. Ghirmai Negash and Dr. Eric
R. Williams, for shaping my academic journey and Dr. Greg Newton, Dr. Roger Cooper
and Professor McDaniel for the opportunity to be part of the Media Arts program.
I would again like to express my sincere appreciation to Mark Mortey and Samuel
Ebo Baiden for your roles in making this journey possible.
I am forever indebted to my father Emmanuel Komla Azanu. Thanks for
providing the strong foundation. My womb-mate and sister, Benedicta Azanu, thanks for
being there to remind me of how far I’ve come in moments of counting my faults. Dela
Heh, I cannot thank you enough for coming into our lives at the time you did. Thanks for
being our mother. To my siblings, Christian, Thomas, Henry, Frederick and Eli, thanks
for being there for me. I couldn’t have come this far without your prayers and goodwill.
vi
To my friends especially, Bose Maposa, Antoinette Ablordey, Patricia Williams
(nee Tetteh), Gregory Williams, Bernice Khemchand (nee Antwi), Kwabena Owusu
Kwarteng, many appreciations for cheering me on. Araba Dawson-Andoh, thanks for all
the support.
I would also like to convey my gratitude to my co-researchers: Nicole Amarteifio
for your time and valuable insights. Afia Drah, I’m thankful for the assistance in reaching
Nicole Amartefio. I’ll always remain grateful. Kumba Gborie, Dennis Moot, Benedictus
Amudzi, Dorcas Anima Donkoh, Vanessa Morgan, Efua Amstrong, Linda Konadu Tuah,
Harry Morgan Insaidoo, Peter Wonders Kankam, Faith Afua Otchere, Pearl Anim-Nketia,
Appiah Kubi Jones, Paul Achonga Kwode, Dennis Yao Akoetey, Nana Aba Kanga Forson
and Johnson Anane, thanks for availing your time and enriching the data.
I’m grateful to almighty God for the many blessings.

vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii 
Dedication ........................................................................................................................... v 
Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. vi 
Chapter 1: General Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 
Background ................................................................................................................... 5 
Statement of the Problem .............................................................................................. 7 
Purpose of Study ......................................................................................................... 12 
Significance of Study .................................................................................................. 13 
Research Questions ..................................................................................................... 15 
Delimitation ................................................................................................................ 15 
Organization of Study ................................................................................................. 16 
Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 19 
A Framework of In-betweeness: A Theoretical Positioning ....................................... 19 
Global colonialism and constructing transnational subjectivities: A global ......... 19 
cultural process. .................................................................................................... 19 
Transnational complexities and diasporas. ..................................................... 20 
African women as cultural remitters. .............................................................. 24 
African diasporas and cultural transmittance. ................................................. 28 
Diasporas, African women’s cultural work, and media. ................................. 29 
Digital diasporas and African women’s work: A politics of aesthetics. ......... 32 
African Women, Diasporas, and Gendered Issues ...................................................... 36 
Identity, Cultural Brokers, and Cultural Reentry ........................................................ 38 
Colonialism and Gender: Transnational Gender Constructions ................................. 43 
Gender in African Societies ........................................................................................ 47 
Religion. ................................................................................................................ 54 
Social Constructivism ................................................................................................. 56 
Finding Middle-ground, Crossing Boundaries ........................................................... 62 
Distribution of the Sensible ........................................................................................ 63 
Identity and In-betweeness ......................................................................................... 68 
Aesthetics as Forms of Resistance and Identity Articulation ..................................... 70 
viii
Aesthetics of in-betweeness: Hybridity, conviviality, and intempestivity. .......... 74 
African women’s politics of aesthetics as dissensus. ............................................ 79 
Methods of protest. ............................................................................................... 80 
A Transnational, Postcolonial Feminist Approach of In-betweeness ......................... 83 
Summary ..................................................................................................................... 88 
Chapter 3: Methodology ................................................................................................... 89 
Positioning Myself ...................................................................................................... 91 
Research Design .......................................................................................................... 94 
Media Theory and Method.......................................................................................... 95 
Data Sources ............................................................................................................... 98 
The web series. ...................................................................................................... 99 
Interviews. ........................................................................................................... 101 
In-depth interview: Self-articulation. ............................................................ 101 
Focus group discussions: Transnational sites. .............................................. 104 
Interview analysis. .............................................................................................. 107 
Other Data ................................................................................................................. 108 
Summary ................................................................................................................... 108 
Chapter 4: Findings and Discussion ............................................................................... 110 
The Creator and Co-producer ................................................................................... 110 
Five Returnees .......................................................................................................... 114 
Articulating Independence: Navigating Gender Relations ....................................... 120 
Articulating independence. ................................................................................. 120 
Living single. ................................................................................................ 121 
Consequences for articulating independence through house ownership. ........... 126 
Trophy men. ........................................................................................................ 132 
Defining the trophy man. .............................................................................. 133 
Policing the Female Body: Obsession with Etiquette ............................................... 134 
Sexual Harassment .................................................................................................... 137 
Education is not enough for women. .................................................................. 140 
Portrayal of Men: All Men Are Bad ......................................................................... 141 
Navigating dicey relationships. ........................................................................... 141 
Articulating Independence Through Sexual Expression ........................................... 145 
Proximity to the West: Pejorative Construction of Other Ghanaians ....................... 149 
ix
Distanciation: Recreating the West in the postcolony. ....................................... 153 
Distanciation through stereotypes. ...................................................................... 159 
Only Africans take dumps. ........................................................................... 159 
Bureaucracy and corruption. ......................................................................... 159 
Distanciation through double standards/double bind. ......................................... 160 
Articulation Through Dress and Style ...................................................................... 161 
Navigating Cultural Differences in the Home Country Upon Reentry ..................... 165 
Intra-gender Relations: Women are Not Their Worst Enemies ................................ 167 
Defining the Ideal Women: Can You Cook Jollof Rice? ......................................... 170 
Religious Ambivalence ............................................................................................. 173 
Empowering the Ghanaian Woman .......................................................................... 174 
Summary ................................................................................................................... 176 
Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................. 178 
Summary of Findings ................................................................................................ 179 
(re)Framing female independence and dependence. ........................................... 179 
Development and Diasporan Studies ........................................................................ 179 
On Feminism ............................................................................................................. 181 
Becoming Ghanaian .................................................................................................. 184 
An African City and Bechdel Test ............................................................................ 185 
Limitations of the Study............................................................................................ 186 
Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 187 
References ....................................................................................................................... 188 
Appendix A: List of An African City Episodes .............................................................. 213 
Appendix B: In-depth Interview Guide .......................................................................... 214 
Appendix C: Recruitment Text for In-depth Interviews ................................................. 215 
Appendix D: Focus Group Interview Guide ................................................................... 216 
Appendix E: Consent Form ............................................................................................ 218 

x