Anthropology encourages us to rethink our views and see things with new eyes, making the unfamiliar easier to understand. Reflecting on my cultural background, I find teachings and beliefs that have shaped my worldview. 

Core belief: Respect for Elders. 

In my culture, we deeply honor and value the wisdom of our elders. From a young age, I was taught to respect the elders, if adults were in the room children were expected to be seen and not heard. You are expected to listen to your parents, seeing that their intel and knowledge are best. 

Impact on worldview: Appreciation for Tradition 

The reverence for elders instills in me a strong a strong appreciation for heritage and tradition. I also prioritize learning from those with more life experience, although this may clash with cultures that value innovation. 

Key Principle: Hospitality and Generosity. 

Hospitality and generosity are central values in my culture. Welcoming guests and providing for them, regardless of means, is considered honorable. I grew up in a very conservative household where the wife is the hostess and the children more explained (the daughter)  are expected to bring the refreshments seeing that you need to follow in your mother's footsteps. 

Impact on worldview: Openness and Generosity. 

This principle encourages openness and generosity in my relationships. I naturally extend kindness and support to others, prioritizing collective well-being over individual gain and one day looking after my husband implementing what I have learned from my mother, just as God has provided me with softness and kind qualities. However, it may sometimes challenge my ability to set boundaries. 

Navigating Networks: A Reflection

Every day, we interact with a web of networks. Referring to one's family, friends, and professional relationships. After studying study unit 4 we see that Ross examines various aspects of domestic life, including household organization, caregiving responsibilities, and gender roles. This led to evoking thoughts of the own parallels in my life. These parallels influence my decisions and contribute to my sense of belonging in the world.   

The closest social network would be my family. The ones I interact most and spend the most time with. They are the cause of my norms and way of life-shaping me into the person that I am today. My parents give me love and support providing my basic needs and therefore I reciprocate by obeying what they expect of me and in the future taking care of them as they have done for me. 

Friendship circles would be the second network, the least time spent but as one gets older and the environment changes you find yourself in their presence a bit more. Love interests would influence this network as well as your family network seeing that you involve them with one another.  This reciprocation is through support, giving, and receiving of different aspects like time. 

Professionally, this network is the one less close to you and involves people like in my life my HC members and lectors. I get reciprocation through learning and mentorship as well as knowledge and respect.  

In each of these networks, to elaborate, exchanges occur incessantly, weaving a tapestry of reciprocity and mutual benefit. Within my family, exchanges range from emotional support and caregiving to material assistance and shared responsibilities. Friendships thrive on the exchange of laughter, empathy, and shared memories, reinforcing bonds of trust and affection. Professional networks facilitate the exchange of wisdom and knowledge causing respect and guidance for you that haven't experienced this season in your life as they already have. 

Now looking back at study unit 4 Ross's aspects and one I resonate with most gender roles, seeing that it is seen as a cultural thing. In my personal life growing up the woman is seen as the caregiver and soft-hearted soul for the family and the husband is seen as the provider. The daughter helps and learns how to run a household. The son usually follows in his father's footsteps. Looking at a religious aspect as well, that is how these roles in my household are distributed.  

As I reflect on these networks, I realize that all the participants influence one another, and we are like a stone being thrown in the water unaware of the ripple effect each decision or action causes in each other's life. We are all connected and intertwined and dependent on each other's reciprocation. May that be distributing enough time to give a feel of recognition and therefore receiving a loyal friend> Doing your household choir making it easier for those around you, causing a teamwork effect in the house and reciprocating proudness in your parents. These networks are vital in one's life as well as for your personal growth and identity. 

A Typical day in my life. 

It's 5 o'clock and I hear the deafening noise of my alarm clock going off.  Bleary-eyed and determined, I drag myself out of bed. I turn on the kettle and the smell of the coffee gives me a somewhat psychological energy boost. I drink my coffee and head out to my morning netball practice, I feel the cold wind blowing softly against me and I appreciate that early dew smell after a night of keeza rain.  

I return back to the hostel and prepare myself for the whirlwind journey of academia. Walking to my first class admiring all the different body language and flair for fashion each student has. Sleeping through my first lecture I was optimistic about, I finish the rest of my classes with realistic expectations. 

As the evening approaches I go about the rest of my extracurricular activities such as first year's concert filled with gut-busting laughter, overactive minds, and rumbling stomachs we finally finish the practice and head to our designated locations. 

Exhaustion sets in after a long and exfoliating shower, as I lay in bed and reflect on my day there is a sense of nostalgia and camaraderie that overfills my mind and soul.   

Blog social anthropology

Crystal- Leigh Schaper 50294636

Title: Exploring Essentialism and Stereotypes regarding white ethnic groups.

Introduction:

Stereotypes and essentialism are seen as societal constructs that often oversimplify and misinterpret diverse groups. If one looks at a white ethnic community you need to approach the topic with experience to acknowledge the individuality and diversity within the group.

I will be discussing essentialism and stereotypes of my ethnic group through a text I was fortunate enough to study in high school.  Mis by Reza de Wet.

The reason why I chose the text for discussion precisely because it represents the typical white ethnic group through one main theme, Afrikaner Calvinism. Yes, there is stereotyping involved, but from my own experience, the points are wrong. Reza de Wet reveals to us things that I have experienced myself. for example, we as South Africans are very likely to expect the worst situation. Apart from that, we as South Africans of the old guard put our eyes up against a new generation or in other words change and this is reflected by the circus and its absurd tricks and people. The typical South African will feel uncomfortable for things like those that exceed the boundaries or values of society.

The way I have dealt with stereotypes and essentialism through the years is by encouraging open conversations and new ways of life that caused conservatism in the society to evolve and to take the eye slaps off that they were used to and to form my own way of life not one that was scripted for me.   

In conclusion:

Essentialism and Stereotypes within a white ethnic group is as Reza de Wet would say "Seen more broadly, the theme of Afrikaner Calvinism implies how the Afrikaner strives to free himself or herself from the suffocating Afrikaner Calvinism ( the exaggerated conscience - the dos and don'ts- that the Afrikaner churches hung around the necks of South Africans; a guilt complex which most of us still walk around with today.)