Chapter 1: Development of the self in society
1. Strategies to develop self-awareness, self-esteem and self-development
1.1. Concepts
Self-awareness
Self-esteem
Self-development
How good you know
How much you like
How you improve yourself
yourself regarding
yourself and how
by building up your
interests, skills, strengths
confident you are.
strengths, improve your
and weaknesses, likes
weaknesses, develop
and dislikes goals, values
your life skills and
and beliefs.
become the best person
you can be.
1.2. Factors that influence self-awareness and self-esteem

What other people say about you

What happens in your life

How well you cope with challenges

How you respond to successes and failures

How popular you are

The media – newspapers, magazines, TV, and all social media sources like
Facebook, Mxit, etc.
1.3 Strategies to build confidence in yourself and others

Good comunication kills

Assertive attitude
 Say what you want to say clearly
 Be positive and respectful
 Know what you want
 Have a tall and straight body posture
 State your viewpoint clearly
 Be polite

Complete tasks and projects successfully by managing your time effectively

Participate in community organizations

Make good decisions
 Evaluate the situation
 Get information about the different options
 Consider the consequences of each decision
 Choose the best option
 Act on your decision
2. Power and gender
2.1 Concepts
Term
Explanation
Gender
Roles, behaviours, activities and qualities that
society sees as suitable for men / women. Gender
is learnt, it is not a biological function
Sex
Biological qualities that define men and women.
Female and male
Groupings according to sex.
Feminine and masculine
Grouping according to gender.
Power relations
Sharing of power between people in a relationship.
You may have a dominant and a submissive
partner in a relationship. Dominance is often
determined by gender and sex. Men have
traditionally more power than women.
2.2 Differences between a woman and a man
 The most obvious differences between the sexes are biological in nature.
Example :
Women
Men
Menstruate
No menstruation
Ovaries that produce eggs
Testicles that produce sperm
Have two x chromosomes ( XX )
Have one X and one Y chromosome ( XY )
Vagina is inside the body
Penis is outside the body
Give birth
Do not give birth
Smaller and lighter with less bone
Taller and heavier with more bone mass
mass
Less upper body strength
More upper body strength
More white blood cells
More red blood cells
Puberty starts two years before
Puberty starts two years after girls
boys
Fertility lessens after the age of 35
Fertile till old age
Higher levels of the hormone
Higher levels of the hormone testosterone
oestrogen
Less body hair
More body hair
Skull is thinner and weaker
Skull is thicker and stronger
Have to work harder to build
Build muscles easily
muscle
2.3
Stereotypical views of gender roles and responsibilities

Women may earn less than men for certain work

Men are promoted to positions of power instead of women

Men are allowed to smoke, drink and have affairs in some societies, while
women are not.

Male sports teams get more funding and media coverage than women
teams.
2.4

Women have to do more housework than men.

Women play a larger role in parenting.

Some careers are traditionally seen as just for men.
Influence of gender inequality on relationships and general well-being

Sexual abuse and violence
 When women/girls are involved in relationships where power is not equal,
men may decide on the conditions under which sex happens. This may
mean forced sex.
 Includes rape, incest and violent sexual acts.
 Some men are violent toward women and beat them up.

Teenage pregnancy
 Peer pressure
 Lack of information
 Poverty
 Rape
 Forced to get pregnant to prove fertility

STIs

including HIV/AIDS
 Women have no say in the use of protective measures
 Age-mixing in a relationship ( sugar daddies / sugar mommies )
 More than one partner
 Transactional sex ( sex that is paid for )
 Rape