Scholar: Wiann Wilson
Research Supervisor: Dr. Tara Gonsalves
Project Background
Masculinity is not a fixed trait but a historically situated performance. Under colonial rule, Black men were subjected to exploitative labor structures and imposed ideals often modeled after European conceptions of masculinity. As Haiti (1804) and Ghana (1957) transitioned to independence, questions arose about whether newly liberated Black men would emulate, reject, or transform these imposed norms. By comparing two distinct colonial regimes—French and British—this research contributes to intersectional understandings of gender, race, labor, and decolonization.
Research Questions
-
How did colonial labor and governance systems shape ideals of masculinity in Haiti and Ghana?
-
How were these ideals represented or contested during postcolonial independence movements?
-
What similarities and differences emerge across the French and British colonial legacies?
Objectives
-
Build a comparative framework for understanding postcolonial masculinity in Haiti and Ghana.
-
Analyze visual and textual primary sources from nationalist movements.
-
Situate these findings within broader debates on gender, race, and empire in political economy.
Methodology
-
Literature Review: Read widely across gender studies, postcolonial theory, and political economy to establish theoretical grounding.
-
Archival Research: Access physical and digital archives in Haiti and Ghana; collect newspapers, memoirs, propaganda posters, speeches, and protest art.
-
Source Analysis: Annotate and catalog primary sources to trace portrayals of masculinity and their ideological significance.