
Turning clippers into a symbol of transformation
“Boycott everything you thought you knew about teenage dreams. In the heart of Accra’s La community, seventeen-year-old Josephine Adwoa Boadi is turning clippers into a symbol of transformation”.
While many girls her age are uncertain about their future, Josephine stands out as a beacon of determination and ambition, actively crafting her own path. She confidently occupies the barber’s chair, an audacious choice that defies the conventions of a profession long dominated by men. With her clippers in hand and a vision in her heart, Josephine isn’t just challenging preconceived notions about gender roles in her hometown of La; she’s paving the way for other young girls in her community. Her bold journey serves as a powerful blueprint, inspiring them to break free from societal limitations and to chase their dreams with passion and resilience.
Josephine Adwoa Boadi preparing to cut a child’s hair
The Reality of La: Unemployment and Societal Challenges
La, a suburb of the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly in Accra – Ghana, stands as a stark reflection of Ghana’s pervasive unemployment crisis. In this economically struggling area, issues such as teenage pregnancies are alarmingly prevalent. According to the LaDMA Health Directorate, teenage pregnancies rose from 190 in 2020 to 222 in 2021—an all-too-familiar sign of the cyclical poverty, lack of opportunities, and the pressures young girls face. Faced with few avenues to escape poverty, many girls resort to relationships with older men in a desperate bid for financial survival, perpetuating a cycle of hardship and dependence.
For Josephine, however, the decision to pursue barbering was not only an escape from these harsh realities, but also an active choice to forge a different narrative.
The Birth of a Bold Career Path
Josephine’s passion for grooming and haircare ignited long before she ever imagined it could become a fulfilling career. As a child, she would eagerly experiment with her brothers’ hair, armed with nothing more than a pair of scissors and an oversized comb. With her imaginative spirit, she transformed their messy locks into neat, presentable hairstyles, each snip and style a reflection of her budding creativity.
It wasn’t until after she completed Junior High School that Josephine began to see the potential in her hobby, recognizing that this could be more than just a pastime. “At first, I never thought of it as something I could pursue seriously. I wasn’t excelling academically, and I needed to find something that would help me create a future,” she reflects, a hint of determination in her voice.
What started as playful practice on her siblings gradually evolved into a professional ambition. Josephine’s once clumsy hands, unsure with the comb and blade, grew deft and confident with every trim. Each haircut became an opportunity for her to refine her skills, honing her craft until she could wield her tools like an artist perfecting a masterpiece. Her journey was a blend of artistry and dedication, each style a testament to her evolving passion.
Josephine Adwoa Boadi
Overcoming Physical and Academic Hurdles
Josephine’s academic journey was fraught with personal challenges that frequently kept her from the classroom. She grapples with a debilitating condition known as ‘chronic migraine,’ which manifests as intense, relentless headaches and pervasive physical discomfort, profoundly affecting her capacity to focus during lessons.
“There were days when even the simplest act of sitting up felt like an insurmountable challenge. My head would throb agonizingly, and the classroom transformed into a battleground, where learning was a fierce and often losing struggle,” she recalls, her voice tinged with the weight of her experiences.
As time passed, despite her relentless determination and hard work, Josephine’s grades began to take a nosedive, and the mounting pressure to keep pace with her peers became an unbearable burden. With her future hanging precariously in the balance, she courageously made the heart-wrenching decision to step away from traditional education. In its place, she resolved to delve into the world of barbering full-time, a path that promised a different kind of fulfillment.
“School just didn’t align with my reality. I knew deep down that I had to carve a different path to prove myself, one that embraced my strengths and passions,” she reflects, her eyes sparkling with a newfound determination.
The barbershop Josephine Adwoa Boadi works at
A Mother’s Support: Embracing the Unconventional Path
In Ghana, the perception of education as the primary pathway to success creates a significant cultural expectation for children, particularly regarding career choices. Josephine’s aspiration to become a barber, especially as a young woman, reflects a bold and controversial stance against these norms. Such non-traditional career choices often face skepticism within families that typically prioritize high-status professions like medicine, law, or business.
Initially, Josephine’s mother, Millicent Amoafoah, the founder of the Diamond in the Rock Foundation, did not fully support her daughter’s ambitions. However, she acknowledged Josephine’s potential, which is a divergence from the norm. Millicent observed her daughter’s inclination for barbering from a young age.
“She always had a knack for it. Even when she was seven, she would gather her brothers and trim their hair with a blade and comb. I never imagined she would take it this far, but I saw her passion,” Millicent noted.
Millicent’s own challenges with unemployment and hardships informed her understanding of the importance of allowing Josephine to pursue her interests.
“It wasn’t what I wanted for her, but I knew she had the drive and talent. So, I decided to support her,” she explained. This decision proved pivotal, leading Josephine to connect with Thomas Sower, a local barber who became her mentor and facilitated her entry into the professional barbering field.
Millicent Amoafoah the mother of Josephine
Facing Stereotypes and Overcoming Social Judgment
Josephine’s choice to pursue a career as a female barber has not been without its challenges, particularly in Ghana, where women in this profession often encounter derogatory stereotypes. Many people presumptuously associate female barbers with alternative sexual orientations, a misconception that Josephine has faced multiple times.
She explains, “Because I’m a female barber, some people assume I’m a lesbian. They make advances at me, and it’s awkward, but I’ve learned to shrug it off. I understand it’s just a stereotype.” This reflects a broader societal issue where women in non-traditional roles may be subjected to unfounded assumptions about their identities.
In addition to these assumptions, Josephine has endured several instances of ridicule from her peers and the community. “When I did not attend Senior High School like everyone else, people started to question me. They would laugh or whisper that I must be pregnant, and that’s why I wasn’t in school. People couldn’t accept that a young girl could just want to work hard and be good at something. They had to label me,” she shares, expressing her frustration with societal expectations.
Despite these obstacles, Josephine has remained committed to her career choice, focusing on developing her skills as a barber rather than yielding to social judgment. This resilience highlights the determination of women who strive to break barriers in male-dominated fields.
Leveraging Social Media to Expand Reach
Recognizing the power of social media, Josephine created a TikTok account to showcase her barbering skills, which is rapidly gaining traction. Her work began to gain attention not only within the province of La but beyond its borders.
“I knew that social media could help me reach a wider audience. It’s a powerful tool,” she says.
Her success is evident: Josephine now has a growing following on TikTok and has even rendered services to Ghanaian celebrities and influencers, including members of the BuzStop Boyz, a prominent group dedicated to community clean-up efforts in Accra. Through this platform, Josephine is creating a brand that extends far beyond her neighborhood.
Her boss, Thomas Sower, couldn’t hold back his praise for Josephine.
“Before I met Josephine, I had a male apprentice who had been with me for over a month, yet he could barely use the clippers. In just one week, Josephine was cutting children’s hair to perfection. Initially, I was in denial because the mastery she possessed can only come from innate skill. Today, my barbershop is popular because of her. Everyone wants to have their hair cut at my shop because I have a skilled female barber,” he says.
Thomas Sower, Josephine’ boss at the Barbershop
The rippling effect of change
Josephine’s journey has inspired a growing number of young girls in La. Her decision to defy expectations is resonating with them, proving that success is not bound by gender or conventional norms.
“Some of the younger girls have started asking me for advice or asking to learn how to cut hair,” she says, her pride evident.
As she looks toward the future, Josephine remains determined to build on her success,
“I have no intention of going back to school anytime soon, instead, I want to hone my skills and make a name for myself. I’m eager to enroll in a professional school to study braiding and other aspects of hairdressing after which I can consider going back to school. she asserts.
Young girls who look up to Josephine for advice
A Fight for Gender Equality and Entrepreneurial Empowerment
Josephine Adwoa Boadi’s aspirations go far beyond the boundaries of a barber’s chair. Her journey is fueled by an inner fire to redefine what is possible for girls in her community and ultimately, for women everywhere. In a setting that often imposes invisible barriers around women, especially young girls in marginalized communities, Josephine’s decision to take up a trade typically reserved for men is an audacious rebellion, a statement that she is not merely surviving, but thriving. But her ambition is not limited to breaking gender norms.
Josephine envisions herself as a force for transformation—a haven for young girls who are told to conform to society’s outdated standards. She wants to build a space where these girls can come to learn not only the skills of barbering, but the fundamental belief that they have the right to dream without restrictions. In Josephine’s mind, a girl should never be told she can’t excel because of her gender. Through her craft, she plans to demonstrate the power of resilience, hard work, and self-belief, all while empowering others to break through the barriers that confine them.
“My aspiration is to inspire both those looking up to me today in my community, and those who are watching from the sidelines across the world, wondering if they can ever escape the shackle of societal norms.
Her ultimate aspiration is to open a barbershop that serves as a symbol of female empowerment and an entrepreneurial model for other young women. It won’t just be a place where people get a haircut but a space where empowerment, inspiration, and mentorship are built into the very foundation. In her barbershop, there will be no room for doubt or discouragement. Every woman who walks through those doors will feel her worth, her potential, and her strength, and will leave ready to take on the world. She is cutting through the layers of expectation and rewriting the future of her generation.
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