International Journal of Bahamian Studies
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Examining the motivation of the Bahamian brain drain
Full text linkThis study attempts to understand what motivates high-skilled Bahamian emigration. Since high-skilled emigration remains a commonly discussed topic in The Bahamas, across the Caribbean region, and globally, this study sought to investigate the primary drivers of this phenomenon. This study excavated themes related to the motivation of Bahamian emigration from historic and contemporary literature in addition to analyzing 20 interviews with diasporic Bahamians as well as 250 surveys completed by native Bahamians residing globally. The findings of this study indicate that Bahamian emigrants are motivated by the desire for educational, professional, and athletic development opportunities not available in The Bahamas, giving responses largely from the higher levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, including: to make family at home proud and to be all they can be. Participants also emphasized the importance of faith in their journey to migrate, highlighting their desire to evolve spiritually as an individual and follow God’s plan. Participants further shared that their motivation was ignited by the appeal of living in global communities where nepotism, political preferences, and people's perceptions do not limit one's social, financial or career trajectory
Culture and genetics: Ghanaian genetic imprints in contemporary Bahamians?
Full text linkThis study presents preliminary genetic findings from 160 individuals sampled on the island of New Providence, The Bahamas, to explore the ancestral origins and diasporic connections of contemporary Bahamians with the Akan ethnolinguistic group from Ghana. Using mitochondrial and Y-chromosomal DNA analysis, our findings reveal that over 94% of maternal lineages and approximately 73% of paternal lineages are of African origin. These results align with historical records of slave ship arrivals and suggest deep ancestral ties with West and Central Africa, particularly from the Gold Coast (roughly modern-day Ghana). Notably, the presence of Y-haplogroups E-U175 and E-L485 (upstream branch of U174) as well as mtDNA haplogroups L2a and L3e, prevalent in the Akan ethnolinguistic group from Ghana, corresponds with the earliest documented slave voyages to The Bahamas during the 18th century. Cultural correlations, including oral traditions, further support the hypothesis of a strong Ghanaian influence in the contemporary Bahamian gene pool. While European lineages are present, they are notably less frequent (5.9% mtDNA and 26.6% Y-chromosomal lineages) and align with known patterns of colonial settlement. These findings underscore the enduring legacy of African genetic and cultural heritage in The Bahamas. This highlights the need for further comparative research with populations in West Africa, such as Ghana, especially from Princess Town (which may be the origin of the Junkanoo festival)
Identity, culture and contemporaneity: A vision from National Art Gallery of The Bahamas
Full text linkBahamian art is characterized by its colonial past and its decolonial response, something that has evolved over the last 50 years. During the last decade of the 20th century, the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) appeared on the scene as a key factor in the growth of the Bahamian artistic environment. NAGB’s development has been fundamental in generating consciousness about the history of visual arts in the country, as well as supporting the work of local artists. One of the most important developments of NAGB has been the National Exhibitions. From the inaugural exhibition in 2003, the National Exhibition has transitioned into a biennial event that gathers artists from across generations, expressing ideas about contemporary Bahamian identity, building a new society and focusing on the development of the artistic community
Building climate resilience in The Bahamas: A framework for enhancing soil and water resource management amidst saltwater intrusion
Full text linkSmall Island Developing States (SIDS), like The Bahamas, face growing challenges to fresh water and soil security due to climate change, sea level rise, and unsustainable land use. Saltwater intrusion, intensified by extreme weather events and anthropogenic pressures, threatens the archipelago’s fragile freshwater lenses and limited, sandy soils. A synthesis of available research highlights the unique hydrogeological and pedological characteristics that increase vulnerability to salinization alongside the compounded impacts of groundwater over-extraction, deforestation, urbanization, and pollution. A resilience framework for integrated soil and water management is proposed, incorporating natural and engineered strategies, including halophyte restoration, organic soil amendments, aquifer recharge, and soil flushing techniques. Emphasis is placed on real-time salinity monitoring, adaptive planning, and diversification of drinking water sources. Aligning these strategies with national and sustainable development goals presents an opportunity to safeguard environmental resources and build long-term climate resilience across The Bahamas
"Smart Girl, Good Boy”: Gendered parental messaging, its intergenerational transmission and implications for education and workforce development in The Bahamas
Full text linkThis study examines how cultural values shape educational aspirations, influence workforce participation, and inform policy development in The Bahamas. Drawing on data from the Bahamas Cultural Values Survey, it investigates how parental messaging differs by gender and how these values have shifted across three generations. Specifically, the analysis explores whether boys and girls were taught different values, whether these values changed over time, and how they relate to gendered patterns in education and employment. Findings indicate that girls report receiving stronger encouragement in values linked to economic preparedness, social cohesion, and moral instruction, while boys receive less emphasis on academic diligence. This disparity contributes to persistent gender inequalities, with males underperforming in education and entering the workforce with fewer skills aligned to the service-oriented economy. The study highlights the need for further research on the intersection of informal socialization, formal education, and labor outcomes, with particular attention to the role of gender in shaping long-term social and economic cohesion.
A study of attachment anxiety and rejection sensitivity as predictors of academic performance in undergraduate females studying at University of The Bahamas
Full text linkRejection is a common human experience; however, people respond differently to its occurrence. Employing attachment theory as a framework to examine the extent and presence of rejection sensitivity, this study utilized undergraduate females (N = 191) studying at the University of The Bahamas to explore the relationship between attachment orientation, rejection sensitivity (RS), and academic performance. Demographic data questions and two assessment instruments were combined into an electronic survey platform. The Experience in Close Relationships-Relationships Structured Questionnaire and the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire-Personal were used to measure attachment orientation (across five relationship domains) and RS, respectively. The study utilized a hierarchical multiple regression analysis to test the hypotheses. Findings revealed no significant relationship between RS and academic performance. Mom and dad attachment anxiety in Model 3, were significantly related to academic performance. However, there was no significant relationship between RS and academic performance, as indicated in Model 4. The study findings are significant as they respond to the growing need for research that examines factors that influence academic outcomes of Bahamian students at various educational levels. Recommendations for student advisement, counseling, mentorship practices, and future research are presented
Childhood corporal punishment in Bahamian college students: Association with executive functions, mood, sensitivity to reward and punishment, openness to experience, and creativity
Full text linkCorporal punishment (CP) of children remains a common means of punishment in Caribbean families despite increasing evidence of long-term negative repercussions. We evaluated whether college students with and without a history of childhood CP differed with respect to self-rated executive functions (EF), mood, sensitivity to reward/punishment, openness to experiences, and creativity. Participants were 454 students at University of The Bahamas. They completed an anonymous online survey that included the Discipline Questionnaire, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Adult, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Sensitivity to Reward and Sensitivity to Punishment Questionnaire, NEO-FFI-3 Openness scale, and Runco Ideational Behavior Scale - Short Form. A total of 84.8% received CP, more commonly in childhood (80.6%) than adolescence (53.1%). Overall, those who received CP endorsed worse EF and more emotional distress. CP during childhood (ages 5-12) was related to worse depression and aspects of EF. CP during adolescence was associated with more anxiety, depression, and stress, greater difficulty with all aspects of EFs, as well as lower sensitivity to reward or punishment. More severe CP was related to greater self-rated creativity and openness. CP during childhood, and especially adolescence, is associated with adverse effects in college students including their emotional and executive functioning, as well as responsiveness to motivational stimuli. Greater creativity and openness may reflect a means to cope with a history of CP. These findings, coupled with other research, indicate that the current tolerance of CP in The Bahamas is unfounded and policies should be changed accordingly.
Returning to the Pews: A Case Study of Mass Attendance Following the Second Wave of COVID-19 at St Paul the Apostle, Lyford Cay, The Bahamas
No full textFollowing the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on the March 15, 2020, public worship was prohibited in The Bahamas on March 18, 2020. Using weekly Mass attendance figures at a Roman Catholic church serving western New Providence, The Bahamas for the period October 18, 2020 to June 11, 2023, this paper shows the steady rebound in the number of people attending Mass. Despite the stress and loss of life caused by COVID-19, the data indicate the willingness of worshippers to return to communal worship
Aggression and its Correlates in the Bahamian Community with a Focus on Corporal Punishment
Full text linkCorporal punishment is commonly used in The Bahamas to correct the behaviour of children. This also risks children becoming aggressive adults. In addition, intimate partner violence is common and takes place in an environment where marital rape is legal. The study investigated associations between corporal punishment, other events in the life of participants and aggression and if aggression is linked to adults using corporal punishment on their own children. An internet-based survey of 5,351 adults (aged 18 or over) living in The Bahamas was used to investigate associations between corporal punishment, other events in the life of participants and aggression. Results: Participants who experienced more childhood events of corporal punishment were more aggressive than others (p < .001, r = .24). Adults who used, or intended to use, corporal punishment on their children, had higher aggression scores and had experienced more childhood corporal punishment events that those adults who did not, or did not intend to, use corporal punishment on their children (p < .001, partial η2 = .01). Negative childhood experiences of violence, lifetime experiences of sexual abuse and workplace bullying were all associated with elevated aggression scores (p < .001). These results suggest that if parents in The Bahamas ceased to inflict corporal punishment on their children society might benefit from lower levels of aggression in the adult population.
We Are Not OK: The Bahamian Plantationocene, Hurricane Dorian, and the limits of academic genre
Full text linkIn September 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall in The Bahamas, ending lives, decimating infrastructure, and dispersing survivors. Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic halted mainstream economic activity for well over a year. Despite the appearance of structural recovery and rebounding tourism, the island nation and the scholars who covered these events are still not OK five years later. How do we narrate events like these? In this piece, using autoethnography, a group of Bahamian and international scholars reflect on their experiences after the impact of Hurricane Dorian