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Papers by Kaitlin van Baarle

This thesis explores diaspora tourism in Ghana, in which the descendants of slaves that were take... more This thesis explores diaspora tourism in Ghana, in which the descendants of slaves that were taken from Africa across the Atlantic during the trans-Atlantic slave trade “return” to Ghana to rediscover their African heritage. Specifically, it examines how Ghanaian individuals that are implicated in tourism construct, navigate, and contest diaspora tourism and their relationship with individuals from the diaspora. This research is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted from July until September 2013 at various sites and events related to the activities of the diaspora, focused particularly on the slave trade forts and a Pan-African festival, Panafest. It is argued that the relationship between Ghanaians and the diaspora is ridden with tensions, especially regarding narratives of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the relationship to sites and events related to the slave trade.

This ethnographic account analyzes the everyday occurrences at Cape Coast castle, in Cape Coast, ... more This ethnographic account analyzes the everyday occurrences at Cape Coast castle, in Cape Coast, Ghana, in order to understand the multiplicity of meanings that are held by diverse individuals regarding this heritage site. It therefore aims to provide an understanding of the fort that goes beyond its normative conception as a place stuck in the period of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, by acknowledging the way in which the site is employed by a variety of tourists and non-tourists alike, while also taking into account its context as an important site of diaspora tourism in Ghana. Interspersed with subjective accounts by the author as a fieldworker from July until September 2013, the article focuses specifically on tours provided at the castle, as well as the mundane social encounters that occur at this site throughout the day. The ultimate aim of this article is to illustrate the complexity of such a heritage site, and the importance of its local geographical context for the various meanings it holds.

This paper draws on ethnographic research on child beggars in Cape Coast, Ghana, to argue in favo... more This paper draws on ethnographic research on child beggars in Cape Coast, Ghana, to argue in favor of new approaches to the anthropology of children that takes account of children’s tactical agency. Firstly, begging itself is argued to be a lucrative source of income for those in precarious socio-economic environments. Secondly, it is argued that children who beg allow us to critically evaluate the limitations of hegemonic conceptualizations of childhood. Thirdly, this paper analyzes more specifically the strategies undertaken by child beggars in Cape Coast, demonstrating how children engage discourses and sentiments held by tourists to their own advantage as a means of generating income. It is hoped that a more nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of children can find its way in practical approaches to children.

The aim of this paper is to explore the interconnection between the body and structure, by drawi... more The aim of this paper is to explore the interconnection between the body and structure, by drawing on the intersection of gender and disability. It is argued that within contemporary gender studies, a gap exists between gender and the body, in such a way that feminists fail to account for the concrete, embodied experiences of oppression faced by women. The cultural model of disability, studying both the physical limitations of disability as well as the way in which disabled people navigate through their environment, is thus argued to potentially offer a new perspective on the interrelationship between gender and the body. This is illustrated by examining two films released in 2012: De Rouille et D'Os, and The Sessions, for the way in which they represent the embodied experience of disability, and well as gender.

Namibia is a strong case for the tension between conservationism and local people. Namibia contai... more Namibia is a strong case for the tension between conservationism and local people. Namibia contains several expanding national parks and has developed a reputation for its environmental sustainability and conservation projects. However, this has often been at the expense of people living in the environments that are of interest to conservationism. This paper examines the tension between conservation projects coupled with the ecotourism industry on the one hand, with people who are local to the areas of land in question. In doing so, I examine the way in which Western discourses about sustainability tend to conceptualize nature as distinct from culture, which many harmful consequences for rural people. I argue that the tourism industry has had an effect in exacerbating issues relating to social marginalization and poverty in rural communities, rather than “empowering” them, and place this in the context of Namibia’s colonial history and current political climate.

Posters by Kaitlin van Baarle

Magazine Articles by Kaitlin van Baarle

Article published in Summer 2013 and Winter 2014 editions of Interact Magazine

This thesis explores diaspora tourism in Ghana, in which the descendants of slaves that were take... more This thesis explores diaspora tourism in Ghana, in which the descendants of slaves that were taken from Africa across the Atlantic during the trans-Atlantic slave trade “return” to Ghana to rediscover their African heritage. Specifically, it examines how Ghanaian individuals that are implicated in tourism construct, navigate, and contest diaspora tourism and their relationship with individuals from the diaspora. This research is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted from July until September 2013 at various sites and events related to the activities of the diaspora, focused particularly on the slave trade forts and a Pan-African festival, Panafest. It is argued that the relationship between Ghanaians and the diaspora is ridden with tensions, especially regarding narratives of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the relationship to sites and events related to the slave trade.

This ethnographic account analyzes the everyday occurrences at Cape Coast castle, in Cape Coast, ... more This ethnographic account analyzes the everyday occurrences at Cape Coast castle, in Cape Coast, Ghana, in order to understand the multiplicity of meanings that are held by diverse individuals regarding this heritage site. It therefore aims to provide an understanding of the fort that goes beyond its normative conception as a place stuck in the period of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, by acknowledging the way in which the site is employed by a variety of tourists and non-tourists alike, while also taking into account its context as an important site of diaspora tourism in Ghana. Interspersed with subjective accounts by the author as a fieldworker from July until September 2013, the article focuses specifically on tours provided at the castle, as well as the mundane social encounters that occur at this site throughout the day. The ultimate aim of this article is to illustrate the complexity of such a heritage site, and the importance of its local geographical context for the various meanings it holds.

This paper draws on ethnographic research on child beggars in Cape Coast, Ghana, to argue in favo... more This paper draws on ethnographic research on child beggars in Cape Coast, Ghana, to argue in favor of new approaches to the anthropology of children that takes account of children’s tactical agency. Firstly, begging itself is argued to be a lucrative source of income for those in precarious socio-economic environments. Secondly, it is argued that children who beg allow us to critically evaluate the limitations of hegemonic conceptualizations of childhood. Thirdly, this paper analyzes more specifically the strategies undertaken by child beggars in Cape Coast, demonstrating how children engage discourses and sentiments held by tourists to their own advantage as a means of generating income. It is hoped that a more nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of children can find its way in practical approaches to children.

The aim of this paper is to explore the interconnection between the body and structure, by drawi... more The aim of this paper is to explore the interconnection between the body and structure, by drawing on the intersection of gender and disability. It is argued that within contemporary gender studies, a gap exists between gender and the body, in such a way that feminists fail to account for the concrete, embodied experiences of oppression faced by women. The cultural model of disability, studying both the physical limitations of disability as well as the way in which disabled people navigate through their environment, is thus argued to potentially offer a new perspective on the interrelationship between gender and the body. This is illustrated by examining two films released in 2012: De Rouille et D'Os, and The Sessions, for the way in which they represent the embodied experience of disability, and well as gender.

Namibia is a strong case for the tension between conservationism and local people. Namibia contai... more Namibia is a strong case for the tension between conservationism and local people. Namibia contains several expanding national parks and has developed a reputation for its environmental sustainability and conservation projects. However, this has often been at the expense of people living in the environments that are of interest to conservationism. This paper examines the tension between conservation projects coupled with the ecotourism industry on the one hand, with people who are local to the areas of land in question. In doing so, I examine the way in which Western discourses about sustainability tend to conceptualize nature as distinct from culture, which many harmful consequences for rural people. I argue that the tourism industry has had an effect in exacerbating issues relating to social marginalization and poverty in rural communities, rather than “empowering” them, and place this in the context of Namibia’s colonial history and current political climate.

Article published in Summer 2013 and Winter 2014 editions of Interact Magazine