I am a proud breed of the Pedi ethical group. there are many factors that shape our perspective of the world based on cultural beliefs and teachings from a young age. These teachings are set to make us aware of the surroundings and also help navigate our way around life. 

for instance, in the Sepedi culture, there are a lot of sayings known as (DIAILA) that teach children from a young age how to avoid things like witchcraft and bad luck in terms of their future. one says that we are not allowed to cut our hair and nails at night. it is said that cutting hair or nails at night brings bad luck, should one do that then automatically people who practice witchcraft will be able to get in their homes at night while they are sleeping at have access to the prediction of their future. this belief is not only based on the cutting of hair but also things like taking the trash outside at night and even sitting directly on the door frame of the house. this belief teaches young minds to accustom themselves to being careful in the outer world as you cannot trust anyone you meet or you are close to. 

The second belief is that if a man wants to marry a Pedi women, a procedure must be followed. the procedure includes lobola negotiations knows as (MAGADI) then the wedding shall follow. Before the lobola negotiations can be done, the man who wishes to marry has to write a letter to the loved, one's family. after le letter has been delivered, the women's family has to approved of it first and send back another response letter to the grooms family showing approval and a date of the lobola negotiations. on the date of the negotiations the uncles and 1 aunt of the groom can then heat to the brides family to negotiate. the belief highlights mostly that  preferably UNCLES as women are not allowed to be present as well as the parents of the bride. from there they negotiate prices according to how the parents on the bride would have requested as. then the wedding ceremony can follow. that shapes our view in a sense that as women we must never allow ourselves to be in a relationship with men and settle for less without marriage, marriage is a big thing for the Pedi tradition. 

These beliefs may be unusual or unpracticed in other ethic groups but that doesn't mean they don't exist . They are part of the Pedi culture and some may relate too.

As the alarm clock blares, signaling the start of another day in potchefstroom ,I groggily roll out of bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. It's 7:00 a.m., and the hustle and bustle of another busy day as a student awaits. With a quick shower and a hearty breakfast, I brace myself for the whirlwind ahead.

09:30 am -my first Class: The day kicks off with an early morning lecture. A module that wants focus and attention. I scribble down notes furiously as the lecture delves into the intricacies of social relations. Despite the early hour, the class is lively, with students actively participating in discussions and asking questions.

11:00 a.m. - Study Session: With a brief break between classes, I head to the library to review my notes and work on assignments. The serene atmosphere of the library provides the perfect backdrop for concentrated study. Armed with textbooks and highlighters, I dive into the world of psychology and psychological imaginations

12:00 p.m - I had my second and final class of the day, PADM 111, it was rather fun that busy. We definitely enjoyed the sensational presentation that the lecture gave out as well as the engagement from my classmates.  I felt a slight breeze of air coming from the air conditioner and that was when I realised that this is indeed a productive session 

13:00 p.m. - Lunch Break: After a productive morning, it's time for a well-deserved break. I join my friends in the campus cafeteria, where we catch up on each other's lives amidst the aroma of freshly prepared meals. Over sandwiches and salads, we laugh and share anecdotes, momentarily forgetting the looming deadlines and upcoming exams.

3:00 p.m. - Group Study Session: With exams on the horizon, I gather with classmates for a group study session. Armed with textbooks, laptops, and an abundance of snacks, we huddle together to review course material and quiz each other on key concepts. The collaborative atmosphere fosters mutual support and camaraderie, making the daunting task of exam preparation seem more manageable.

6:00 p.m. - Dinner and Downtime: As the sun sets, signaling the end of another day, I retreat to the comfort of my dorm room for dinner and some much-needed downtime. A home-cooked meal and a Netflix binge provide the perfect antidote to the day's academic rigors, allowing me to recharge and unwind before tackling the evening's assignments.

8:00 p.m. - Late-Night Study Session: With the night still young, I settle down at my desk for a late-night study session. Armed with caffeine and determination, I tackle the remaining assignments and readings, striving for academic excellence even in the wee hours of the morning.

11:00 p.m. - Lights Out: As the clock strikes eleven, I reluctantly close my textbooks and bid farewell to another day filled with learning and growth. With dreams of future success dancing in my head, I crawl into bed, ready to rest and recharge for the challenges that tomorrow will bring. Another day in my life of as a student comes to an end.

Stereotype as a concept refers to a widely held or fixed and over simplified image or an idea of a particular type of person or group. 
Stigmatisation refers to the action of regarding someone or something as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval. 
Otherness then refers to the quality or fact of being different. 
These three words carry a very important and heavy weight meaning in terms of how people are viewed in the real world. In terms of social anthropology these meanings are sometimes true.

In light of The dangers of a single story presented by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, I learned that parents or family members sometimes play a role in planting and teaching their children stereotypes and stigma ideas. She says her mother always stigmatised their helper’s family as “poor” people despite the great things that the can create because she never took time to get to know them and then had a generalised idea  of how they live according to how she sees them. This reflected in a bad way on her side because the one time she got to see their work and talent at there home, she struggled to unsee the “poor family “ that she was told about because that’s just how she was brought up to. 

She also experienced a sense of stereotype when her roommate in the USA assumed that she couldn’t use a stove and by also feeling sorry for her just because she is from Africa. This made me realise that people from other coy assume that Africa is a poor continent as a whole although majority of them have never been there , they just judge based on the facts of one person. Tha shows that people tend to generalise others in terms of what they hear without confirming whether it’s true or not. 

The negative side of this can result in people not getting opportunities to pursue certain interests because they have been painted in a certain manner without getting to know them. For instance, in the Body ritual among the Nacirema they emphasised that this logically combinations have not been formed anywhere in the world. So the magical beliefs of the Nacirema present unusual aspects that it seems desirable to describe them as an example of extremes to which human behaviour can go. According to professor Linton ( 1963) the ritual of the Nacirema has been brought to the attention of anthropologists that the culture of people is still very poorly understood.

Therefor the question remains , DO WE STILL WANNA SEE OURSELVES LIVING IN A SOCIETY THAT OVERSEES PEOPLE BASED ON STEROTYPE AND STIGMATISATION? or do we wanna bring that to an end ?