7 - “The (Re)Making of Bodies and Enforcement of Masculinities: Aesthetics and Aspiration at a Zimbabwean University”
Corresponding Author(s) : Pedzisayi Leslie Mangezvo
Africa Development,
Vol. 43 No. 1 (2018): Africa Development: Special Issue on: (Re)making bodies – The Structures and Dynamics of Aesthetics and Aspirations in an Evolving Africa
Abstract
Drawing on a qualitative study of students from Africa University, Zimbabwe, this article explores the materiality of skin bleaching and skin whitening in asserting and enforcing current constructions of aspirational masculinities. The article reflects on how discourses of skin bleaching and skin whitening among University students present a prism through which we can interrogate hierarchies of male identities, the notions of “colourism”, aspiration and aesthetics among young African males in the twenty-first century. The article argues that skin bleaching and whitening among the students has incubated a colour stratification in the university that is redefining what it means to be a man, the dynamics of aesthetics, beauty and masculinities. Based on the analysis of empirical data from open-ended interviews, the article concludes that sensuality, beauty, male identities and the (re)making of bodies among the university students remain contested terrains that evoke numerous emotions and masculine sensibilities.
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- Adebajo, S. B., 2002, ‘An epidemiological survey of the use of cosmetic skin lightening cosmetics among traders in Lagos, Nigeria’, Mercury Volume 5, No. 7, pp.43-48.
- Blay, Y. A., 2011, ‘Skin bleaching and global white supremacy: By way of introduction’, Journal of Pan African Studies, Volume 4, No. 4, pp.4-46.
- Brewer, J. D., 2000, Ethnography, Buckingham: Open University Press.
- Charles, C. A., 2003, ‘Skin bleaching, self-hate, and black identity in Jamaica’, Journal of Black Studies, Volume 33, No. 6, pp.711-728.
- Chitando E. & Chitando A., 2004, ‘Black Female Identities in Harare: The Case of Young Women in Dreadlocks’, Zambezia, Volume 31, No. 1 and 2, pp.1-21.
- Connell, R. W., 1995, Masculinities, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S., 2011, ‘The Discipline and Practice of Qualitative Research’ in N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln, eds, The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research (4th ed.), London: Sage Publications.
- Hall, M. & Gough, B., 2011, ‘Magazine and reader constructions of ‘metrosexuality’ and masculinity: A membership categorisation analysis’, Journal of Gender Studies, Volume 20, No. 01, pp.67-86.
- Hunter, M.L., 2011, ‘Buying racial capital: Skin-bleaching and cosmetic surgery in a globalized world’, The Journal of Pan African Studies, Volume 4, No. 4, pp.142-164.
- Jeffreys, S., 2000. ‘‘Body art’ and social status: Cutting, tattooing and piercing from a feminist perspective’, Feminism and Psychology, Volume 10, No. 4, pp.409-429.
- Karamanoukian, R., et al, 2006, ‘Aesthetic skin branding: a novel form of body art with adverse clinical sequela’, Journal of burn care & research, Volume 27, No. 1, pp.108-110.
- Landau, P. S., & Kaspin, D. D., 2002, Images and empires: visuality in colonial and postcolonial Africa, University of California Press.
- Mayers, L.B., Judelson, D.A., Moriarty, B.W. and Rundell, K.W., 2002, ‘Prevalence of body art (body piercing and tattooing) in university undergraduates and incidence of medical complications’, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Vol. 77, No. 1, pp. 29-34.
- Olumide, Y.M., et al, 2008, ‘Complications of chronic use of skin lightening cosmetics’, International Journal of Dermatology, Volume 47, No. 4, pp.344-353.
- Perani, J., & Wolff, N. H., 1999, Cloth, dress, and art patronage in Africa, Oxford: Berg Publishers.
- Pierre, J., 2008, ‘‘I Like Your Colour!’ Skin bleaching and geographies of race in urban Ghana’, Feminist Review, Volume 90, No.1, pp.9-29.
- Street, J.C., et al, 2015, ‘Skin bleaching: A neglected form of injury and threat to global skin’, African Safety Promotion: A Journal of Injury and Violence Prevention, Volume 12, No. 1, pp.52-71.
- Troman, G., Jeffrey, B., & Walford, G., 2005, Methodological Issues and Practices in Ethnography (Studies in Educational Ethnography Volume 11) In G. Troman, B. Jeffrey, & G. Walford, eds.), Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
- Ulin, P. R., 2002, Qualitative Methods: A field guide for applied research in sexual and reproductive health. North Carolina: Famly Health International.
- Ya Azibo, D.A., 2011, ‘Commentary: On skin bleaching and lightening as psychological misorientation mental disorder’,Journal of Pan African Studies,Volume 4, No. 4, pp.219-233.
References
Adebajo, S. B., 2002, ‘An epidemiological survey of the use of cosmetic skin lightening cosmetics among traders in Lagos, Nigeria’, Mercury Volume 5, No. 7, pp.43-48.
Blay, Y. A., 2011, ‘Skin bleaching and global white supremacy: By way of introduction’, Journal of Pan African Studies, Volume 4, No. 4, pp.4-46.
Brewer, J. D., 2000, Ethnography, Buckingham: Open University Press.
Charles, C. A., 2003, ‘Skin bleaching, self-hate, and black identity in Jamaica’, Journal of Black Studies, Volume 33, No. 6, pp.711-728.
Chitando E. & Chitando A., 2004, ‘Black Female Identities in Harare: The Case of Young Women in Dreadlocks’, Zambezia, Volume 31, No. 1 and 2, pp.1-21.
Connell, R. W., 1995, Masculinities, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S., 2011, ‘The Discipline and Practice of Qualitative Research’ in N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln, eds, The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research (4th ed.), London: Sage Publications.
Hall, M. & Gough, B., 2011, ‘Magazine and reader constructions of ‘metrosexuality’ and masculinity: A membership categorisation analysis’, Journal of Gender Studies, Volume 20, No. 01, pp.67-86.
Hunter, M.L., 2011, ‘Buying racial capital: Skin-bleaching and cosmetic surgery in a globalized world’, The Journal of Pan African Studies, Volume 4, No. 4, pp.142-164.
Jeffreys, S., 2000. ‘‘Body art’ and social status: Cutting, tattooing and piercing from a feminist perspective’, Feminism and Psychology, Volume 10, No. 4, pp.409-429.
Karamanoukian, R., et al, 2006, ‘Aesthetic skin branding: a novel form of body art with adverse clinical sequela’, Journal of burn care & research, Volume 27, No. 1, pp.108-110.
Landau, P. S., & Kaspin, D. D., 2002, Images and empires: visuality in colonial and postcolonial Africa, University of California Press.
Mayers, L.B., Judelson, D.A., Moriarty, B.W. and Rundell, K.W., 2002, ‘Prevalence of body art (body piercing and tattooing) in university undergraduates and incidence of medical complications’, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Vol. 77, No. 1, pp. 29-34.
Olumide, Y.M., et al, 2008, ‘Complications of chronic use of skin lightening cosmetics’, International Journal of Dermatology, Volume 47, No. 4, pp.344-353.
Perani, J., & Wolff, N. H., 1999, Cloth, dress, and art patronage in Africa, Oxford: Berg Publishers.
Pierre, J., 2008, ‘‘I Like Your Colour!’ Skin bleaching and geographies of race in urban Ghana’, Feminist Review, Volume 90, No.1, pp.9-29.
Street, J.C., et al, 2015, ‘Skin bleaching: A neglected form of injury and threat to global skin’, African Safety Promotion: A Journal of Injury and Violence Prevention, Volume 12, No. 1, pp.52-71.
Troman, G., Jeffrey, B., & Walford, G., 2005, Methodological Issues and Practices in Ethnography (Studies in Educational Ethnography Volume 11) In G. Troman, B. Jeffrey, & G. Walford, eds.), Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Ulin, P. R., 2002, Qualitative Methods: A field guide for applied research in sexual and reproductive health. North Carolina: Famly Health International.
Ya Azibo, D.A., 2011, ‘Commentary: On skin bleaching and lightening as psychological misorientation mental disorder’,Journal of Pan African Studies,Volume 4, No. 4, pp.219-233.