Social networks in my life all have different functions that they serve to me. Social networks in my life consists of my family, friends, lecturers and classmates. These social networks all have a specific way of helping me in my daily life.

My family network is where I get my primary support. My family consists of my mother , father and uncle.My family supports me ,be it emotionally when I am going through something hectic, financially support me ,for example they pay for my university fees, give me grocery money, pocket money and an allowance. My family is also where I learnt love because they are the first people who were there for me and taught me what love is from my birth. My family has always been there for me when I needed them ,foe example, when I was writing my matric finals my family was there to ensure that I had everything I needed in order to sufficiently study with no distractions. My family is the one that will permanently be in my life no matter what happens 

My next social network is friends. I have two different friend groups which both serve a similar but different purpose in my life. My first friend group is the one where we just chill together and talk about all the new things in our lives or talk about the latest affairs we have read recently. This is where I get to relax and just reflect on where my life is at that point and what has transpired so far. This friend group helps to keep me grounded and not stray away from who I am and what I want to achieve. My second friends group also grounds me but these are also the friends where we go out together and have fun, this friend group supports me more than any other. They are always there whenever I need something no matter what or when it is.  They help me  relieve the stress I have and 6o have fun, they bring good vibes and happiness to my life. My friends are another support system that j have in life. They never judge me no matter what I tell them and are always ready to ensure that I am not struggling or anything. They are forever there for me and give me comfort .

My lecturers are the ones who provide me with education and knowledge. These are the people where I have limited interactions with because of our professional relationship.  The only time we have interactions is if it’s based on school work. This particular social network is a formal and professional one unlike the others in my life. My lecturers are only there for academic purposes and nothing else.
My classmates are the people that I go to whenever I need to know somethings about a particular module. Although I am not friends with them we have a decent amount of interactions due to the fact that we’re pursuing the same qualification and help each other in the times of need. This social network is where we can all relate to each others struggles such as assignments and tests. This is where we joke around when stressed or we come together and help on another understand course work if someone is have a difficult time. The classmates I have are of great help because they are always there whenever I need clarification on a particular set of work and they never leave to be struggling on my own. This is a great support system because we can all relate to the stress can so we better understand each other than those that do not do the same course as us.

 

SANL UNIT 3 BLOG

As I open my eyes I am immediately met with the sun’s bright rays which blind me. The sun is shining and blinding me as if a torch is being held in my face at night. The first thought that comes to my mind is how I need to complete my morning routine of cleaning myself up before I can go to class. As I’m sitting in my room I think of how my life has changed. I am going through a rite of passage. I am now enrolled in a university that is in a completely different province with no family near by. A few days ago I had not become a student but now I have fully taken my new ‘occupancy’ as officially being a university student. Before I could actually name myself as a fully pledged NWU student I went through a week of orientation. This week took me back to my grade 8 days when I was a fragile little girl who never thought she could make it here, I felt as though I was in the wilderness because of how lost and confused I was most of the time,I even had to make friends so that I can have people who are going through the same thing as me because we relate to each other and can offer each other help. Orientation week had me so drained because everyday was a different activity and I had still not adjusted to the Potchefstroom weather. The heat here feels as though there are 100 heat waves hitting at the same time, I thought Joburg was hot but clearly I was not educated enough about the different province climates. After Orientation had occurred and classes had officially started, I could now call myself a university student. My thoughts had just taken over I had even forgotten about how I need to get ready for my 8:00 am class.

 

Sociology is my first class today and I attend it at the engineering buildings which was a long trek to get there. It’s not even a walk, it felt like a journey back to Gauteng by foot. The sun was showing off its ability to produce heat, it was as hot as a bakery.

 

In my sociology class I felt so exhausted because of how busy this week has been. The past few days were like a farmers market,forever packed and busy but more tasks were being handed out. The workload felt as though I am a single mother with 3 children who all look to me for guidance even though I am also sometimes clueless .I had started falling asleep during my class until the lecturer announced how we need to complete an activity which is due at the end of the class. The lecturer had now indirectly told me that sleeping was not going to happen as she’s expecting me to complete a task that she had just issued. I attempted to complete the tasks but my thoughts were like dinosaurs, they were non existence at this point but I had to try so I can get participations marks for this semester and also because the lecturer was not going to let is out without submitting her task.

 

My friend who was sitting next to me was asking me for help because I am usually at the top of my game but today felt as though I have been dealt with a bad hand. Today I am the one who is seeking assistance because I am as clueless as a newborn at this moment .

 

As soon as I completed my task I handed it in and the lecturer granted me the space to exit and finally be free from the shackles of her exhausting class. The walk back to my room felt as if I had just run in a marathon but I was not fit to do so. I just wanted to get to my room so I could collapse onto the bed and take a long nap without any disturbance. As I got into my safe heaven, my own personal garden of eden I was finally able to just relax and unwind from the class I had and recuperate. I was finally happy and relieved when I threw myself onto my bed with caught me with ease. 

 

I lied on my bed as I tried to generate my energy when suddenly at the speed of light I shot back up when I remembered I have an assignment due next week and I have not completed it. This led me straight to my table so I can start with it. It felt as though I was a doctor who was on call for the past 2 days with no sleep ,I was exhausted but had to push through so I could complete this task before I find myself rushing it at the last minute. 

 

Completing this task felt as though I have been asked to find the cure for HIV, but I’m not even a qualified scientist nor doctor. As soon as I was done I finally had the chance to retire to my bed and take my long awaited nap.

Olwethu Ngwenya 50756370

 

I argue that in colonial anthropology, societies that we're seen as different than those in Europ were often regarded as inferior because Anthropologists were not used to the society's living norms and it then created othering and Eurocentrisim. Colonial anthropology is the Study of societies who were seen as primitive and inferior by the colonial administration and this also enabled Eurocentrism ,which is the view that Europeans are superior than any other beings. Othering is when a group of people are treated and referred to as though they are inferior and not part of the mainstream human race/society. I got my understanding of these concepts from Edward Said(1978) and Horace Miner(1956). To substantiate my argument I will outline the concept of othering and link it to colonial anthropology. 

Othering is a practice where non-Europeans are seen as inferior and it can be said that comes from Eurocentrism ,where Europeans saw themselves as superior and the origin of civilization. I saw othering at occur at my high school where leadership roles were mostly given to my white classmates and my black classmates were almost never considered as they were assumed to possess any leadership traits and seen that my white classmates had to lead making black people seem inferior to the white classmates. Through this experience I saw Eurocentrism because my white classmates were seen to be better than others and I also saw othering when black people were only considered for less important roles. This was observed in anthropology, where Anthropologists potrayed their non-European studied subjects seem inferior. 

In this essay I showed how othering, the inferiorisation of non-Europeans, was brought about by Eurocentrism. I backed up my understanding of othering by using my own personal experience and using it to explain how it functioned during colonial anthropology. 

Reference list

Said,E.W. 1978. Orientalism 9-57

Miner, H. 1956. Body of Ritual among the Nacriema 503-507