Perceptions of University of Ghana Students towards Campus Female Fashion

Abstract

Western fashion has influenced traditional fashion in Ghana and this trend is common on university campuses. Vital body parts concealed by the traditional woman are now on display to the disapproval of many Ghanaians. The study explored perceptions of 270 University of Ghana students toward female fashion on Legon campus. Both male and female respondents aged 18 to 50 years were selected by the proportionate random sampling technique and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data.  Hand-coded data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Chi square analysis showed no significant relationship between gender and respondents’ perceptions of female fashion. About 70% of the respondents indicated that generally, female students on campus dressed indecently. Christians, who formed 87% of respondents, regarded decent dressing as covering vital parts such as midriff, breasts and thighs. Moslems who formed 10% further believed decency entailed covering the hair, arms and legs. Whereas 37% of respondents stated that indecent female dressing had no effect on them, 61% (mostly males) stated that it affected them negatively. These effects included distraction of attention and sexual arousal. Suggestions made by respondents to moderate indecent dressing included introduction of dress code, education and sacking perpetrators from class and examination halls. Decency in campus fashion could moderate promiscuity, and boost academic work of students. There was therefore the need to moderate trends which exposed sensitive body parts. Recommendations included education, sacking indecently dressed students from lecture halls, government policies to ensure that second hand clothing importers reject indecent clothes.

Key words: Clothing, fashion, western fashion, traditional fashion, indecency, decency.