Taboo, Traditions and Social Media: A Qualitative Study of LGBTQ+ Narratives in West Africa

Author

Lilian Oluchukwu Onianwa

Date

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Journalism

Committee Chair

Robert Byrd

Committee Member

Chalise Macklin

Committee Member

Matthew Haught

Abstract

Amid state-sanctioned homophobia and cultural taboos, this study examines the motivations behind the continuous use of social media among LGBTQ+ individuals in West Africa. Grounded in Queer Theory and Social Identity Theory (SIT), it employs a qualitative research design to explore how digital platforms function as tools for identity development, self-expression, and community formation. Utilizing a Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) approach, this research contributes to the growing body of scholarship on LGBTQ+ experiences in digital Africa by offering a nuanced understanding of how identity and agency are negotiated within restrictive environments – and ultimately, the media’s role in shaping user behavior.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

PDF

Notes

Embargoed until Changing Roles for the Printed Hymnal at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century: An Analysis of Three Non-Denominational Hymnals

Recommended Citation

Onianwa, Lilian Oluchukwu, "Taboo, Traditions and Social Media: A Qualitative Study of LGBTQ+ Narratives in West Africa" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3779.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3779