Cultural influence and its effect on personality and appearance management in Ellembelle District of the Western Region

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to assess culture influence on personality and appearance management, using female teenagers in Ellembelle District of Western Region of Ghana as case study. The researcher employed the descriptive survey. The population of the study comprised of Ghanaian female teenagers from the ages of 13 to 25 years within Ellembelle District, Western Region. Convenient sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty (120) female teenagers for the research. Questionnaires and interviews were the main instrument used to gather primary data for the study. Descriptive statistics in the form of percentages and frequencies was used by the researcher in the data analysis process. The study results indicated that culture influence and fashion affect appearance and personality for Ghanaians female teenagers. Moreover, in Ghana individuals are now conscious of their appearance and engaged in good dieting, regular exercise, enough sleep, weight training, good grooming and the use of cosmetics in order to beautify their own physical appearance. The study concluded that the majority of the respondents believe that their clothing, grooming, body shape affects the way they think and feel. The study therefore proposed that academic institutions and other organizations should educate young females on the significance of appropriate dressing, as their appearance is more likely to communicate their personality traits to others. Also, it is recommended that State Institutions such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and National Commission for Culture should develop and implement policies, as well as intensify public sensitization on the ‘Wear Ghana Initiative’ and the ‘National Everyday Wear Programme’, in order to promote the sale of Ghana-made clothing, which will in turn create jobs, and maintain the cultural identity of Ghana.