The Homogenization of Africa: Perspectives on Western Students Studying Abroad in the Global South

From a social perspective, globalization can work to connect people of similar ideologies across borders through social media and the ease with which we can now travel. These imagined communities help build senses of nationalism as well as open up the potential for global connectivity. Being able to work and study abroad helps to educate people about other cultures, which in turn can foster a sense of global community. With such a community, people can work to understand each other from a cultural level such that there are fewer inter-cultural conflicts. While these are certainly positive aspects of the social side of globalization, there are also quite a few negatives. The way social and news media portray certain countries and conflicts are incredibly skewed and frequently serve political agendas that are contrary to the foundation of a harmonious global community. For instance, the entire continent of Africa is frequently portrayed in the media as a homogenous, singular force that is undeveloped and in need of western intervention. These residual imperialist sentiments are pervasive in news media and are frequently perpetuated on social media by those in the global north coming to Africa on mission or service trips.

Compare, for example, the results of these two Google Image Searches:

On social media, it can seem a lot more fashionable to post a photo with a South African child in a township rather than an image of the bustling city of Cape Town. It is in this skewed perception of Africa that the dangers of a seemingly connected world become clear; though many claim that globalization opens the doors for intercultural communication, the reoccurring theme of a western-dominated discourse on global affairs leaves large portions of the world in positions that are incongruous to global social mobility.

Ivana Marshall says:

February 2, 2016 at 2:39 pm

I saw a quote the other day that read, “would you still travel to this place if you could not take your camera?” I thought it was really interesting and similar to what you are saying about cultural appropriation and the exploitation of various people. I love the idea of globalization, exactly as you defined it, “connecting people of similar ideologies across borders through social media and the ease with which we can now travel.” I studied abroad too and half of the fun was the cool pictures we took with ancient ruins and beautiful landscapes. I can’t help but think that some of the reason I took those photos were just for social media or to show my family that I was enjoying my new surroundings.

I agree wholeheartedly, the media skews the way that certain cultures are represented. Prior to being in Jordan, I had my stance on the Palestinian/Israeli debate. After living in Jordan for almost two months, I started to understand other perspectives. I certainly could not have done that by looking at Palestine through the gaze of the American media.

I feel like the global North or Western world always feels compelled to come to someone’s rescue, and most often, Africa’s. If anything, Africa probably just needs the West to get off of their neck, as a continental whole. Sometimes I think that the west is always the ‘helping hand’ because purposely or inadvertently, it reinforces hierarchies.