The Significance of 'Traditional' Clothing To Children of Ghanaian Immigrants in Germany

Scholarship on the lives of children of immigrants in Europe has been flourishing in recent years. Different aspects of their lives have been studied, including on the factors that promote or hinder their integration into the host society (such as their educational achievements and access to the labour market) and maintaining connections with their parents’ home countries etc. What has not been studied well is the relevance of culture, especially material artifacts such as clothing relating to their parents' places of origin in their everyday lives. Migrants carry with them various material objects including clothing from their places of origin to their places of destination for varied purposes, all of which deserve scholarly attention because objects and practices are interconnected, particularly for children of immigrants who may be assumed not to hail from where they were born and or raised. Second-generation immigrants, or children of immigrants are often raised in homes where some of these material objects (including clothing) are present daily and frequently used by their parents to show where they come from, making them familiar with these objects and in their usage. This study explored the clothing and dress of children of Ghanaian immigrants in Germany, especially on clothing, items of dress, and clothing materials related to their parents’ provenance. Specifically, the study investigated the sense making or meaning making processes participants make of these material objects. It inquired into ways in which these material objects are used by participants in navigating through the ‘two worlds’ they live in. The study explored the means of acquiring these material objects and appropriating them for identity and other purposes through the lens of transnational ties. The study sought to answer the central research question, ‘in what ways are clothing and cloth materials related to parents’ origin important to children of immigrants?’ The concepts of transnational ties and diaspora were employed as analytical tools to understand and interpret data gathered for the study. To achieve the objectives of this study, qualitative research methods were employed in conducting the study. Interviews and observations were employed in gathering data. First and second rounds of coding of data were undertaken using a software for qualitative data analysis, MAXQDA. Further analysis was done manually. Results of the study demonstrate that clothing, items of dress, and cloth materials related to parents’ provenance are important to research participants in diverse ways. They are avenues of expressing belonging and identity, reduces identity problems, points of memory, gives or enhances self-confidence, shows one's roots, origin, or heritage, and serve as points of identities. The findings also show influences on the children of immigrants on both general dress and on the use and keeping of African ‘traditional’ clothing. Social media and parents were found to be the major influencers. Social media was also found to play several roles regarding clothing and dress for research participants, including as a medium of acquiring them. Participants prefer African ‘traditional’ clothing in modern and elegant forms and styles. I argue in this study that African ‘traditional’ clothing are not just pieces of clothing to children in migrant families. Underlying their usage or keeping are histories, stories, memories, thoughts, intentions, messages etc. that users seek to project, either about themselves or of collective identities. The study emphasises on the family, socialization in transnational social spaces, and the maintenance of transnational ties as relevant for children of immigrants becoming familiar with, the sense they make of, acquisition, and ways they engage with African ‘traditional’ clothing and dress.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Universität Bielefeld

Year

2024

Author dc:creator

• Agoe, Paul Akuetteh

Repository record source_url

https://pub.uni-bielefeld.de/record/3001186

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:pub.uni-bielefeld.de:3001186