University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA SELECTION, USE AND CARE OF UNDERGARMENTS AMONG STUDENTS IN KWANYAKO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SUSAN BANASAM (8160100003) A Thesis in the Department of Home Economics Education, Faculty of Science Education, Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy (Home Economics Education) NOVEMBER, 2019 University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh DECLARATIONS Candidate’s Declaration I, Susan Banasam, hereby declare that this thesis, with the exception of quotations and references contained in published works which have all been identified and duly acknowledged, is entirely my own original work, and that it has not been submitted, either in part or whole, for another degree elsewhere. Signature: ……………………………………… Date………………………………………………. Supervisor’s Declaration I hereby declare that the preparation and presentation of this thesis was supervised by me, in accordance with the guidelines for supervision of dissertation laid down by the School of Research and Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba. Name of Supervisor: Professor Phyllis Forster Signature: ………………………………… Date: ……………………………………… iii University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh DEDICATION To my husband Armstrong Esaah and my two lovely children, Winfred Nana Yaa Esaah and Reginald Fiifi Esaah for their endurance and co-operation. iv University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The successful completion of this study is the result of corrections, suggestions and guidance of my supervisor, Professor Phyllis Forster, I am indeed indebted to her. My gratitude also goes to all the lecturers of the Department of Home Economics Education, University of Education, Winneba for their comments, constructive criticisms and guidance that put this work in shape. I express my gratitude to students in Kwanyako Senior High School for their time spent to provide me the needed information. Had it not been their responses, I could not have been able to achieve the objectives of this study. To all family members, colleagues and friends, I say a big thank you for their prayers and moral support. v University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Pages DECLARATIONS iii DEDICATION iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi LIST OF TABLES xi LIST OF FIGURES xii ABSTRACT xiii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.0 Overview 1 1.1 Background to the Study 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem 5 1.3 Purpose of the Study 6 1.4 Objectives of the Study 6 1.5 Research Questions 6 1.6 Hypotheses 7 1.7 Significance of the Study 7 1.8 Delimitation of the Study 7 1.9 Limitations of the Study 8 1.10 Operational Definition of Terms 8 1.11 Organization of the Study 9 vi University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 9 2.0 Overview 9 2.1 Theoretical Framework 10 2.1.1 Modesty Theory 11 2.1.2 Immodesty Theory 12 2.1.3 Protection Theory 12 2.1.4 Adornment Theory 13 2.2 Conceptual framework 15 2.3 Types and Classification of Undergarments 18 2.3.1 Panties 21 2.3.1.1 Women’s Brief 22 2.3.1.2 Boy Shorts 23 2.3.1.3 Thongs 24 2.3.1.4 G-String 25 2.3.2 Brassiere 27 2.3.3 Chemise 30 2.3.4 Underskirt 31 2.3 .5 Men’s Undergarment 32 2.3.5.1 Brief 32 2.3.5.2 Boxer Brief 33 2.3.5.3 Boxer Shorts 34 2.3.5.4 Undershirt 35 2.3.5.5 Singlet 36 2.4 Factors that Influence the Selection of Undergarments 37 2.4.1 Physical Factors 37 vii University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh 2.4.1.2 Fabric Type/ Fibre Type 37 2.4.1.2 Colour 38 2.4.1.3 Style 40 2.4.1.4 Comfortability 41 2.4.2 Socio-Economic Factors 43 2.4.2.1 Cost 43 2.4.2.2 Fashion 43 2.4.2.3 Suitability 44 2.4.2.4 Association 45 2.4.3 Psychological Factors 46 2.4.3.1 Interest 46 2.4.3.2 Values 46 2.4.3.3 Attitudes 48 2.5 Care Methods for Undergarments 48 2.5.1 Sorting 50 2.5.2 Washing Undergarments 51 2.5.3 Stain Removal and Bleaching of Undergarments 54 2.5.4 Steeping or Soaking 56 2.5.5 Drying Method 57 2.5.6 Ironing 58 2.5.7 Airing 59 2.5.8 Mending/Repairing Undergarments 59 2.5.9 Undergarment Storage 61 2.6 Undergarment Related Challenges 62 2.7 Summary of Related Literature 65 viii University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 67 3.0 Overview 67 3.1 Research Design 67 3.2 Population of the Study 68 3.3 Sample and Sampling Techniques 69 3.4 Instrumentation 71 3.5 Validity and Reliability of Instruments 72 3.6 Data Collection Procedure 73 3.7 Data Analysis and Presentation 73 3.8 Ethical Considerations 74 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 75 4.0 Overview 75 4.1 Demographic Data of the Respondents 75 4.2 Results and Discussion of Data on Research Questions 77 4.2.1. Research Question 1: 77 4.2.2. Research Question 2: 92 4.2.3. Research Question 3: 108 4.2.4. Research Question 4: 120 4.3 Testing of Hypotheses 124 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH 127 5.0 Overview 127 5.1 Summary 127 5.2 Summary of Key Findings 128 ix University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh 5.3 Conclusions 130 5.4 Recommendations 131 5.5 Suggestions for Further Research 131 REFERENCES 132 APPENDICES 142 APPENDIX A 142 APPENDIX B 143 x University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1: Distribution of the Respondents by Sex, Age, Form, Programme and House of Residence 75 2: The Types of Undergarments Worn by the Female Students 77 3: The Types of Undergarments Worn by the Male Students 79 4: Cross Tabulation of Sex Selection of Undergarment 81 5: The Number of Undergarments Used by the Female Students 83 6: The Number of undergarments Used by the Male Students 85 7: Number of Times the Female Students Wore a Particular Undergarment in a Week 87 8: Number of Times the Male Students Wear a Particular Undergarment in a Week 90 9: Factors that Influenced Undergarment Selection by the Female Students 93 10: Factors that Influenced Undergarment Selection by the Male Students 99 11: Mean Comparison of Undergarment Colour Preferences by Female Students 102 12: Mean Comparison of Undergarment Colour Preferences by Male students 103 13: Garments under which Female Students Wore Undergarments 105 14: Garments under which Male Students Wore Undergarments 106 15: Undergarment Care Practices or Methods Used by the Female Students 109 16: Undergarment Care Practices or Methods Used by the Male Students 111 17: Number of Times the Female Students Washed their Undergarments in a Week 114 18: Number of Times the Male Students Washed their Undergarments in a Week 115 19: Places where the Students Dried their Washed Undergarments 117 20: Places where the Students Stored their Undergarments 119 21: Challenges Faced by the Female Students in Using Undergarments 121 22: Challenges the Male Students faced in Using Undergarments 123 23: Independent samples t-test of differences in factors influencing Undergarment selection by male and female students of Kwanyako Senior High School 125 24 Shows the Independent samples t-test in the Care Methods used for Undergarment by male and female students of Kwanyako Senior High School 126 xi University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1: Conceptual Framework 15 2: Women’s Brief Front Back 23 3: Control Brief 23 4: Brazilian Brief 23 5: Boy shorts: Front Boy shorts: Back 24 6: Thongs A 25 7: Thongs B 25 8: G -String: Front 27 9: Full Support Bra 28 10: T-Shirt Bra 29 11: Padded Bra 29 12: Push-up Bra 29 13: Underwire Bra 29 14: Low Back Bra 29 15: Maternity/Nursing Bra 29 16: Convertible Bra 29 17: Adhesive Bra /Stick on 29 18: Chemise A 31 19: Chemise B 31 20: Different Designs and Colours of Underskirts 32 21: Men’s Brief 33 22: Boxer Brief 34 23: Boxer shorts 35 24: Undershirt 36 25: Singlet/Tank Top 36 26: (Front) (Back) 36 27: Persons who usually Selected Undergarments for the Students 80 28: Sources of Acquisition of the Students’ Undergarments 82 xii University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh ABSTRACT The study was conducted at Kwanyako Senior High School. The descriptive survey design was employed to investigate how students in the school’s boarding house select, use and care for their undergarments. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 176 respondents, comprising 115 females and 61 males for the study. Research objectives for the study were: to identify the types of undergarments used by students, examine factors they considered in their selection, evaluate the care methods adopted by students to maintain their undergarments and to explore undergarment related challenges they experienced. Questionnaire was used to collect data which were analysed electronically with the SPSS version 21 to generate percentages, means and standard deviations and independent t-test. The study revealed that female students often wore undergarments such as chemises, brassieres, boy shorts, briefs, underskirts, thongs, G-strings, brassieres and chemise while the male students used boxer shorts, undershirts, singlets, boxer briefs and briefs.