Anklet Wearing Among Females In Cape Coast: A Sociological Analysis

Abstract

There is patronage in anklets wearing among young women in recent times. Anklets are associated with varied meanings, interpretations and corresponding implications. For example, some people associate the wearing of anklets with negative practices such as promiscuity, lesbianism, soul tying, marine spirits and immodest dressing among others. Drawing on cultural feminism, labelling and Bourdieu’s habitus and bodily hexis theories, this study employed qualitative in-depth semi-structured interview and photovoice, with exploratory research design to examine the meanings and interpretations given to anklet wearing among females in Cape Coast. Purposive and snowballing sampling methods were used to recruit twenty-five participants for the study. The study revealed the gendered nature of anklet wearing with females wearing it most. The types of anklets worn by the females were mostly the beaded and chain anklets. Fashion emerged as a strong reason for the wearing of anklets by the young women. Both negative and positive interpretations were given to the wearing of anklets with some perceiving wearers as “slay queens”. Positively, some people saw anklets as normal ornaments worn everyday just like earrings, necklaces and related ornaments worn by females as a life-style or fashion statement. Sociologically, the findings reflected a duality but also a continuum with practices of modernity co-existing with traditional practices. While with modernity females, wear it to satisfy their fashion taste, there are still traditional practices such as puberty rites where initiates are adorned with anklets. Based on the findings, I recommend the need for society appreciate the changing fashion trend in anklet wearing.