CXC SOCIAL STUDIES

• UNIFYING CONCEPTS


  • Cooperation-between parts/sections to performance of functions
  • Diversity-in terms of belonging to a particular family type
  • Development/change-in terms of government's acting on the family with some of its functions
  • Conflict-in the case of one role interfering with the performance of another or individuals deliberately neglecting their roles and responsibilities
  • Freedom/choice-to undertake roles and the compounding responsibilities
  • Identity-as defined by one's status in the family
  • Cooperative-the sharing of roles
  • Conflict-way from the reluctance of males to accept the changing role of family members or the inability to cope with the demands of work and family
  • Cooperation-the sharing of traditional domestic roles
  • Choice/freedom-to opt or reject domesticalities
  • Relative-ego pay free work
  • Gender-removal of barriers to
  • Identity/development/change-the modern Caribbean woman, male identity crisis
• SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES


  • understand himself or herself as a social being, his or her relationships with his or her family, community, nation or state, the Caribbean region and the wider world
  • appraise critically the prevailing societal attitudes, norms and values
  • use coherent and conscious processes as the principal means of arriving at decisions
  • use skills for social participation and social action
  • explain and correctly define terms associated with the family
  • describe the major functions of the family
  • examine the roles, relationships and responsibilities of adult and sibling members of the Caribbean family
  • explain the causes and effect of the changes in the roles of family members in Caribbean society
  • describe factors which motivate in the preparation for parenthood
  • examine the characteristics of effective parenting
  • formulate strategies for dealing with contemporary social issues that face the Caribbean family
• CONTENT


  • Explanation of the following concepts and terms associated with the family: family, kinship, nuclear family, extended family, matriarchal, patriarchal, monogamy, polyandry, polygyny, matrifocal, patrifocal, legal marriage, common-law marriage, separation, divorce, inheritance
  • The functions of the family in contemporary Caribbean society: as a unit of procreation, as a social unit for rearing children, namely the socialisation of the individual, as an economic unit for satisfying needs, as a social unit for satisfying emotional and psychological needs
  • Differences in family types and unions in the Caribbean: Types-nuclear, extended, single household, single parent; Unions-visiting relationship, cohabitation or common-law, legal marriage
  • Roles, relationships and responsibilities of adult and sibling members of the Caribbean family
  • Factors which contribute to the changing roles and responsibilities of men and women in the Caribbean family: (a) status of women in society, (b) choice of employment, (c) labour-saving technology, (d) leisure activities, (e) educational opportunities
  • Results of the changing roles and responsibilities of men and women in the Caribbean family: (a) identity crisis, (b) marginalisation of the male, (c) role conflict, (d) development of self-esteem and confidence of women, (e) independence of women
  • Preparation for parenthood-physical, economic, emotional and psychological readiness
  • Characteristics of a good parent: Problem solving skills, communication skills, socialising skills, disciplinary skills, knowledge of good nutrition, showing of love warmth, money management skills
  • Contemporary social issues which influence Caribbean family life: teenage pregnancy, street children, alternative life styles, substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, sexually transmitted diseases, child abuse, poverty, desertion, suicide, incest, domestic violence, trafficking in persons, care and concern of the aged and those with special needs
• Contemporary social issues which influence Caribbean family life

  • Teenage pregnancy
  • Street violence
  • Deviant lifestyles
  • Substance abuse
  • Juvenile delinquency
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
  • Drug abuse
  • Poverty
  • Desertion
  • Suicide
  • Incest
  • Domestic violence
  • Trafficking in persons
  • Care and concern of the aged and those with special needs
• Conflict-resolving approaches for dealing with contemporary social issues

  1. Cooperation between the various social agencies dealing with social issues

  2. Freedom/choice to accept or reject approaches for dealing with social issues

  3. Justice/recognition of the needs of the victim and reformed person in society
• Laws related to


  • Inheritance
  • Child care
  • Divorce
  • Domestic violence
• Cultural diversity of the Caribbean region

  • Existence of cultural patterns, customs, ceremonies, religions and festivals in the Caribbean region
  • Promotion of ancestral customs, art, craft, language, music, dance and folklore by national organisations and groups
• Students prepare questions before the presentation to help them evaluate the effectiveness of the law
• Students view documentaries on Caribbean culture
• Students plan and deliver presentations on their cultures, ceremonies, religions, festivals, food, dress and language. Students record information under headings as above
• Alternatively, groups research and make presentations on the cultural traditions of different ethnic groups in the region
• Primary, secondary, formal, informal groups

  Groups based on close personal relationships, groups based on more impersonal relationships, groups with clearly defined rules and structure, groups without clearly defined rules and structure
• Students compile a glossary of terms and concepts within the section
• Students categorise school and community groups
• Students identify the various groups to which they belong and classify them as primary or secondary, informal or formal
• Students are encouraged to join one voluntary group outside of school
• Characteristics of social groups

  • Common culture, common goals, voluntary or involuntary membership, marks of identity, common needs, interests and values, specific ways of interacting determined by rules and regulations, established patterns of behaviour, cooperation to achieve group goals, sanctions
• Requirements for group cohesion

  • Leadership, control, cooperation, authority, commitment and loyalty
• Students come and record examples of the different types of interaction in the classroom during the lesson
• Students discuss the need for referees and umpires in sports and mediators and arbitrators in disputes
• Students role-play situations of group dynamics
• The OECS was formed on June 18, 1981, by Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
• The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is a regional grouping of countries in the eastern Caribbean region, established to promote cooperation and development in various areas such as trade, education, health care, and security.
• The UN has six main organs: the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Trusteeship Council, and Secretariat.
• The Caribbean Community (Caricom) is an organization that promotes economic integration among its member states.
• The United Nations (UN) is an international organization established on October 24, 1945.
• In 2006, Anguilla withdrew from the organization to become an associate member.
• Montserrat also left the organization in 2002 due to its volcanic eruptions.
• Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are still members of the OECS.
• The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 with the aim of promoting global peace and security, protecting human rights, and fostering economic and social progress.
• The UN has six main organs: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Trusteeship Council, and Secretariat.
• The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 with the aim of promoting global peace and security.
• The UN's primary goal is to prevent wars between nations and ensure world peace.
• The UN's primary goal is to prevent wars between nations and ensure peaceful relations among them.
• The UN also works towards achieving social progress and human rights worldwide.
• The UN Charter outlines the principles and objectives of the organization.
• The UN has five permanent members with veto power - China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US.
• The OECS was formed in February 1981 with Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as founding members.
• Montserrat left the OECS in 2002 due to political instability caused by volcanic eruptions.
• The OECS was formed by Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.