Chapter 1: Development of the self in
society
Unit 1: Strategies to develop self-awareness, self-esteem and self-
development
Key words
Self-awareness: how well you know yourself (interests, skills, strengths & weaknesses, likes &
dislikes, goals, wishes & hopes, values & beliefs)
Self-esteem: how much you like/value yourself; how confident you are (believe in/respect/value
yourself; have confidence)
Self-development: how you can improve yourself (strengthen weaknesses, build on skills &
strengths)
Media: ways of communication (newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, Internet, Facebook/Twitter,
cell phones)
Influence: affect, have effect on, an impact
Response: reaction, how you behave, what you do
Reflection: think about, consider
Confident: sure of yourself, you believe in yourself
Affirm: offer someone support & encouragement
Public speaking: give a talk/speech to other people
Assertive: firm, sure of yourself, clear of what you need/want to communicate
Uniqueness: being different, special, individual, unusual, unlike anyone/anything else
Tool: aid to help you
1.1 What are self-awareness, self-esteem & self-development?
(Refer to above definitions)
1.2 Factors that influence self-awareness and self-esteem
Many factors affect self-awareness & self-esteem:
People around you (how they treat you; how much you think they like you)
How well you cope with different things in your life
Media
1.3 Strategies to build confidence in yourself and others
Helpful ways to improve yours and others’ confidence:
Developing good communication skills
o Express yourself clearly
o Be assertive
o Speak in public
Finishing tasks successfully
o Time manage; meet deadlines; finish what you start; persevere
Participating in community activities
o Volunteer; participate in community events; play sport; register to vote
Making good decisions
o Take responsibility for yourself
o Evaluate; find options; think of consequences; decide; act
Affirming others
o Support/encourage/respect/care/appreciate/thank/give honest respect to others
,1.4 Action plan to build self-esteem
Be strong when others’ words hurt you (just their idea; not always true)
Accept criticism if it’s helpful & true
End each day with a reflection (successes/what good you did)
Make practical action plan to help develop yourself (what I will do & why; when; how)
1.5 Acknowledge & respect uniqueness and differences
Everyone is unique (different & special).
Respect differences (don’t fear/laugh at them)
Constitution doesn’t allow discrimination based on race/culture/gender/ability differences
Always imagine how you’d feel if you were the other person
Race, gender and ability
There are many different cultural groups & races in SA.
Respect all races
All races are equal
Everybody needs respect (regardless of gender/abilities/race/culture)
Tools to help you respect differences
Tool 1: How to respond to differences
Stay calm, friendly & polite; listen to & respect them
Tool 2: Reach out; learn more about other people
Learn about other culture/race/ability groups (more knowledge = easier respect)
Focus on similarities; accept differences
Reach out to people different from you; make new friends
Unit 2: Power and gender
Key words
Relationship power inequality: not having equal power in a relationship
Power: control over people/things
Gender: role in society you’re expected to play depending on whether you’re woman/girl/man/boy
Power relations: sharing of power between people in a relationship
Masculinity: having qualities associated with men/boys; maleness; male sex
Femininity: having qualities associated with women/girls; womanliness/femaleness; female sex
Stereotypical: having fixed & simple idea of certain person/thing
Norms: attitudes/behaviour that are expected/thought of as normal
2.1 Definition of concepts: power, power relations, masculinity, femininity
and gender
Important terms
Term Explanation
Gender Socially made roles, behaviours, activities & qualities that society sees
suitable for women & men; learnt – not biological function
Sex Biological & physiological qualities defining men & women; born as boy/girl
Female & male Groups according to sex
Feminine & masculine Groups according to gender
Power
Refers to force/strength/might/ability to get things done
Abused if one person has power over another (unequal power relations)
,Power relations
Men’s power over women in workplace/homes is changing (government & society
promoting equal power relationships)
Unequal power relationships:
o Dominant person has power to give/deny something to the submissive person;
money, violence, emotional abuse, sex used for control
o Women encouraged to be submissive to men (physically stronger) in some cultures
o Laws protect women from abuse
Masculinity
Behave in ways typical for men/boys
Refers to manliness; idea combined with social customs (encourage control over women)
Femininity
Behave in ways typical for women
Refers to qualities customarily suitable for women/girls (may lead to submissive behaviour)
Gender
Gender roles given according to historical/political/economic/cultural norms; may change
Opportunities/restrictions may be linked to gender
Power relations: decisions made by husbands
In many families, men make decisions about:
Women’s health care & visits to family/relatives
Large & daily household purchases
2.2 Differences between a woman and a man
The most obvious differences between men and women are biological.
Women Men
Menstruate -
Ovaries that produce eggs Testicles that produce sperm
Have 2 X chromosomes (XX) Have 1 X & 1 Y chromosome (XY)
Vagina inside body Penis outside body
Give birth -
Smaller/lighter; less bone mass Taller/heavier; more bone mass
Less upper body strength More upper body strength
More white blood cells More red blood cells
Bigger breasts; produce milk after giving birth Small breasts don’t produce milk
Start puberty changes about 2 years before boys Start puberty changes about 2 years after girls
Fertility lessens after age 35 Fertile until old age
Larger hip section than men (give birth) Smaller hip section
Higher levels of oestrogen hormone Higher levels of testosterone hormone
Thinner & smoother skin (less collagen & sebum) Thicker & oilier skin (more collagen & sebum)
Less body hair More body hair
Larger body fat % Smaller body fat %
Work harder to build muscle Build muscle easily
Bruise easily Bruise less easily
Thinner & weaker skull Thicker & stronger skull
Less capacity for cardiovascular endurance Higher capacity for cardiovascular endurance
Better night vision & visual memory Better distance vision & depth perception
Longer lifespan Shorter lifespan
, Reproduction & roles in the community
Traditional roles of men and women are changing. It is up to individuals to modernise gender roles &
responsibilities.
2.3 Stereotypical views of gender roles & responsibilities
Examples of gender differences as decided by societies:
Women earn less for similar work; men promoted to positions of power
Male sports teams get more funding, media coverage & pay
Women have to do more housework; have larger parenting role
Some careers traditionally seen as only for men or women
In some societies:
o Women can’t smoke/drink/have more than 1 partner
o Only men allowed to drive cars
o Women not allowed to go out without male escort
o Widow doesn’t inherit husband’s home/money
2.4 Gender differences in participation in physical activities
Men have larger hearts & lungs; oxygen difference affects physical performance
Men & women are separated to ensure fairness in sport
o Men play 5 sets & women play 3 sets in tennis tournaments
o Men run longer distances than women in races
2.5 Influence of gender inequality on relationships & general well-being
Sexual abuse & violence
Sexual abuse includes rape, incest & violent sexual acts; refers to
inappropriate/uncomfortable touching by other people; forced to have sex
Report abuse immediately & tell an adult you trust
Men who are violent towards women are uneducated (don’t understand their strength
doesn’t give them the right to abuse women)
Internet/cell phone sexual violence is on the rise (don’t send naked/sexual photos)
Teenage pregnancy
Causes:
Peer pressure
Lack of information on safe sex & contraception
Poverty
Rape
Wanting a baby to feel loved; but not wanting it when it’s born (not responsible enough)
Thinking a child will keep a relationship/force a marriage
Forced to get pregnant (gender inequality); man’s decision
STI’s including HIV & AIDs
Gender inequalities influence exposure to STIs
Males often take control of sexual relationships
Gender customs may force women to be passive/obedient (can’t negotiate for safer sex)
HIV spreads quickly:
o Women have no say in protection for sex
o Age-mixing in sexual relationships
o More than 1 partner
o Transactional sex (paid for)
o Rape
Physiological factors (for women)
o Weaker
