“I Want to Feel and Look Beautiful” Voices of Young Adult Banyankole Girls from the Ankole Region of Uganda

Authors

  • Ruth Kaziga Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara 1410, Uganda;
  • Charles Muchunguzi Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara 1410, Uganda;
  • Dorcus Achen RHEA, Centre of Expertise on Gender, Diversity and Intersectionality, Vrije Universitet Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
  • Susan Kools School of Nursing, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 800826, 202 Jeanette Lancaster Way, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA

Keywords:

Older Adolescents girls, Body Image, Self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and satisfaction

Abstract

Young people who struggle with self-esteem, are much more susceptible to harmful societal messages and struggle with body dissatisfaction. Therefore, body image and self-esteem are integral issues in child development. This paper is part of a PhD study that examined the Older Adolescent Banyankole Girls’ Response to sociocultural constructions of body image in the Ankole Region of Uganda. The paper further describes the barriers and facilitators of body image of older adolescent girls. A narrative inquiry method was used to analyze narrative interviews (N=30) of young adult girls (16-24), recruited from schools as well as the community and key informants who included nutritionists, fashion designers, pageant coaches and beauty influencers (N=5).  Themes that emerged were parental influence, peer influence, media influence on adolescent girls’ body image, and the influence of the fashion industry. There is need for government interventions in school that focus on positive attributes, media regulations and diversity skills of adolescents in order to harness positive feelings for a better generation. At the same time there is need for the government to provide mandatory training for general practitioners on mental health. Here general practitioners can in turn advise parents and caregivers on how to confidently inspire their children from a very early age encouraging a high self-esteem.

References

. E, Janzon., S, Namusaazi, & I, Bolmsjö, (2015). Increasing Obesity in Ugandan Women due to Transition from Rural to Urban Living Conditions ? a Qualitative Study on Traditional Body Image , Changed Lifestyles and Unawareness of Risk for Heart Disease. 2015. 2nd Feb, Available: https://doi.org/10.5171/2015.213083

. R.M, Perloff. Social Media Effects on Young Women’s Body Image Concerns: Theoretical Perspectives and an Agenda for Research. Sex Roles 71, 363–377 (2014). 29th May, Available https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-014-0384-6

. Education Service Commission.E.S.C (2019). Republic of Uganda Education Service Commission Annual Performance Report Fy 2018 / 19. Available http://www.esc.go.ug/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Annual-Report-FY-18-19.pdf

. E, Kemigisha, et al (2018). Adolescents’ sexual wellbeing in Southwestern Uganda: A cross-sectional assessment of body image, self-esteem and gender equitable norms. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(2). 22nd Feb, Available https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020372

. S, Moustafa.et al (2017). Body Image Perception in Association with Healthy Lifestyle Behaviour’s in Lebanese Men and Women. International Journal of School and Cognitive Psychology, 04(04), 2–7. 15th Nov. Available https://doi.org/10.4172/2469-9837.1000201

. M, Tiggemann, (2005). Television and Adolescent Body Image: The Role of Program Content and Viewing Motivation. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(3), 361–381. 20th Jul Available https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.24.3.361.65623

. M,Wurzinger, A. M. Okeyo, D. Semambo, & J. Sölkner. (2009). The sedentarisation process of the Bahima in Uganda: An emic view. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 4(11), 1154–1158. 31st Aug. Available https://academicjournals.org/ajar

. M.T, Mushanga. (1969). Folk Tales from Ankole (First Edit). Kampala, Uganda. Milton Obote Publishers.pp 12-15

. J. Muvumba. “The Politics of Stratification and Transformation in the Kingdom of Ankole, Uganda. PhD dissertation, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 1982.

. M. Infield, et.al, (2008). Community attitudes and behaviour towards conservation: an assessment of a community conservation programme around Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. 28th Jun. Available; https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3008.2001.00151.x

. Elam, Y. (1973). The Social and Sexual Roles of Hima Women: A Study of Nomadic Cattle Breeders in Nyabushozi County, Ankole, Uganda (First edit). Manchester city. Manchester University Press.

. R.Kaziga. “Big is Beautiful” Female fattening among the Bahima of Ankole, Uganda. Master Thesis. Department of Local Governance and planning, Mbarara University, Mbarara, Uganda. 2016

. J.P, Lantolf & M.E, Poehner. (2012). Sociocultural Theory. The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics, 1–10. 5th Nov. Available; https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405198431

. S.D, Golden et.al. (2015). Upending the Social Ecological Model to Guide Health Promotion Efforts Toward Policy and Environmental Change. Apr. Available; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25829123/

. Shefer, T. (1990). Feminist Theories of the Role of the Body Within Women’s Oppression. Critical Arts, 5(2), 37–54. 4th Dec. Available; https://doi.org/10.1080/02560049008537635

. J. Bullington, & G. Karlsson. (1984). Introduction to phenomenological psychological research. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 25(1), 51–63. March. Available; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.1984.tb01000.x

. Ellett, Jackie (2011) "Narrative and Phenomenology as Methodology for Understanding Persistence in Art Teachers: A Reflective Journey," Marilyn Zurmuehlen Working Papers in Art Education: Vol. 2011 , Article 2. Nov. Available; https://doi.org/10.17077/2326-7070.1407

. K. Etherington & Nell, Bridges. (2011). Narrative case study research: On endings and six session reviews. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. 1st Mar. Avaialble; https://doi.org/10.1080/14733145.2011.546072.

. A, Brown, & E. Thompson. (2013). A narrative approach to strategy-as-practice. Business History, 55(7), 1143–1167. 22nd Sep. Available; https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2013.838031

. V, Braun., & V, Clarke. (2012). Thematic Analysis Thematic Analysis , pp 57-71. Jan. Available; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269930410_Thematic_analysis.

. Kamulali. (2010). History of Ankole Kingdom. Accessed on October,19,2010. Available; https://www.scribd.com/doc/39658297/History-of-Ankole-Kingdom

. K, Theipel. (2015). Understanding Adolescence; Late Adolescence/Young Adulthood. State Adolescent Health Resource Center, Available; http://www.amchp.org/programsandtopics/AdolescentHealth/projects/Documents/SAHRC%20AYADevelopment%20LateAdolescentYoungAdulthood.pdf

. Uganda Bureau Of Statistics (UBOS); Statistical Abstract Report: Kampala, Uganda, 2016.

. I, Etikan. (2016). Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 1st Jan. Available; https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11

. S.C.W, Chng, & D.B, Fassnacht. (2016). Parental Comments : Relationship With Gender , Body Dissatisfaction , and Disordered Eating in Asian Young Adults Parental comments : Relationship with gender , body dissatisfaction , and disordered eating in Asian young adults. Body Image, 16th Jan, pp. 93–99. Available; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.12.001

. R.B.M, Villano & P. (2019). ‘And yet I’m an adult now’. The influence of parental criticism on women’s body satisfaction/ dissatisfaction during emerging adulthood. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 599–608. 9th Dec. Available; https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1699433

. Fr, R., & J.J, Obiunu. (2015). Relationship between Parents and Peer Influencences on Qualities of Adolescent Friendship. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(8), 128–133. Aug. Available; https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1082725.pdf

. H.H, Gunnarsdóttir. Effects of Parental and Peer Support on Self-Esteem in Adolescents. Doctoral dissertation, University in Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Iceland; 2014; p. 22.

. D, Clay; V.L, Vignoles.; H, Dittmar. Body Image and Self Esteem among Adolescent Girls: Testing the Influence of Socialcultural Factors. J. Res. Adolsecence 2019, 15, 451–477, Available; https://doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2005.00107.x.

. M, Lawler.& E, Nixon. (2011). Body Dissatisfaction Among Adolescent Boys and Girls: The Effects of Body Mass, Peer Appearance Culture and Internalization of Appearance Ideals. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(1), 59–71. Available; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-009-9500-2

. M, Tergouw. Van. (2006). Peer Influences on the Body Satisfaction of Adolescent Girls : Where Do We Go from Here ? 104–110. J Social Cosmos. Available; https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Peer-Influences-on-the-Body-Satisfaction-of-Girls%3A-Tergouw/e07f9695c8d9493c670aa536e0e0be3d3d09e0d1

. S, You.; K, Shin. Sociocultural influences, drive for thinness, drive for muscularity, and body dissatisfaction among Korean undergraduates. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 5260, Available; https://doi:10.3390/ijerph17145260.

. L.R, Vartanian. Self-discrepancy theory and body image. In Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human Appearance (Vol. 2); Elsevier Inc.: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2012. Available; https;//doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-384925-0.00112-7

. S, Grabe. L.M, Ward. & J.S, Hyde. (2008). The Role of the Media in Body Image Concerns Among Women : A Meta- Analysis of Experimental and Correlational Studies The Role of the Media in Body Image Concerns Among Women : A Meta-Analysis of Experimental and Correlational Studies. Jun. Available; https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.460

. S, Russello. (2009). "The Impact of Media Exposure on Self-Esteem and Body Satisfaction in Men and Women," Journal of Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research: Vol. 1 , Article 4. Available: https://knowledge.e.southern.edu/jiur/vol1/iss1/4.

. M, Tiggemann. Television and Adolescent Body Image: The Role of Program Content and Viewing Motivation. J. Soc. Clin. Psychol. 2005, 24, 361–381. Available; https://doi:10.1521/jscp.24.3.361.65623.

. E.A, Vogel, J.P, Rose., L.R, Roberts. & K, Eckles. (2014). Social Comparison , Social Media , and Self-Esteem. October. Available; https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000047

. M.S, Bednarzyk., T.L, Wright., & K.C, Bloom. (2013). Body image and healthy lifestyle behaviors of university students. International Journal of Advanced Nursing Studies, 2(2), 107–114. Available; https://doi.org/10.14419/ijans.v2i2.1290

. Dove. Chantelle Brown-Young and Positive Self Image: Teaching Girls about Individual Beauty. 2005. Available: https://www.dove.com/arabia/en/dove-self-esteem-project/help-for-parents/media-and-celebrities/chantelle-brown-young-and-positive.html accessed on 23 Sept 2019.

. N. Nofuru. “Many African, South Asian Women Bleach Their Skin Despite Severe and Lasting Side Effects.” 2014. Global press Journal. 2014. 5636 Connecticut Ave NW, PO Box 42557, Washington, DC. 14th Dec. Available:https://globalpressjournal.com/africa/cameroon/many-african-south-asian-women-bleach-their-skin-despite-severe-and-lasting-side-effects.

Downloads

Published

2021-08-29

How to Cite

Kaziga, R. ., Muchunguzi, C. ., Achen, D. ., & Kools, S. . (2021). “I Want to Feel and Look Beautiful” Voices of Young Adult Banyankole Girls from the Ankole Region of Uganda. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 60(1), 181–199. Retrieved from https://gssrr.org/index.php/JournalOfBasicAndApplied/article/view/12985

Issue

Vol. 60 No. 1 (2021)

Section

Articles

License

Authors who submit papers with this journal agree to the following terms.