Social Studies

• Role

  A set of behaviors which go with a particular social position
• Consequences of father/father figure not fulfilling responsibilities

  • Children and the family may not have necessities - food, etc.
  • Family members may feel neglected
  • Family members may resent him
  • Children may become 'indiscipline'
  • Conflict can arise between him and mother-figure
  • Additional pressure is put on mother-figure and children to provide, etc
• Expectations/Responsibilities of grandfather long ago

  • Help discipline
  • Pass on traditions
  • Help settle disputes
  • Help babysit
  • Socialize children
  • Support son/daughter
  • Sometimes provide financial help if necessary
• Expectations/Responsibilities of grandmother long ago

  • Help with babysitting
  • Help discipline
  • Pass on traditions
  • Help settle disputes
  • Socialize children
  • Support son/daughter
  • Sometimes provide financial help if necessary
• Consequences of son not fulfilling responsibilities

  • Conflict can occur due to unperformed responsibilities
  • Additional stress is placed on other family members who have to take up more responsibilities
• Expectations/Responsibilities of daughter long ago

  • Love and respect parents/guardians and grandparents
  • Help mother/mother figure with chores in the house
  • Help babysitting where necessary
• Expectations/Responsibilities of daughter today

  • All of the responsibilities from long ago and help with chores outside
  • Sometimes help financially (by working on weekends or during school vacation)
• Consequences of daughter not fulfilling responsibilities

  • Conflict can occur due to unperformed responsibilities
  • Additional stress is placed on other family members who have to take up more responsibilities/chores
• Role of the parents

  • Helping children to develop healthy lifestyles e.g exercising, eating healthy, staying away from illegal drugs
  • Spending quality time with children e.g playing games with children
  • Providing children with basic economic needs e.g food, shelter, clothing
  • Developing discipline in children when they fail to follow the laws of home, school and the land
  • Cultivating a sense of responsibility- e.g by giving them age appropriate tasks
• Role of the children

  • Respect parents
  • Assist with household chores
  • Pursue studies diligently
  • Be responsible
  • Practice thrift- take care of possessions
• Factors which contribute to the changing roles and responsibilities of men and women in the Caribbean family


  • Status of women in society
  • Choice of employment
  • Available technology
  • Leisure activities
  • Educational opportunities

  
• Results of the changing roles and responsibilities of men and women in the Caribbean family

  • Identity crisis can result
  • Marginalisation of the male
  • Role conflict
  • Development of self-esteem and confidence of women/independence of women

  
• Strategies for dealing with Contemporary Social Issues

  • Educating citizens on the causes and effects
  • Enacting legislation with heavy penalties
  • Providing assistance to those affected
  • Consulting with and providing resources/assistance to non-governmental Organisations and other organizations
  • Seeking international technical and financial assistance
  • Creating more employment opportunities
  • Providing home help and institutionalized care for the aged and those with special needs
• Culture


  The way of life of a people – including the ideas, beliefs, customs, traditions, language, etc, which have been passed down from generation to generation
• Diversity


  Referring to a variety or range of different things
• Cultural diversity


  The existence of a variety of different cultures in one society
• Ways in which national organisations and groups promote ancestral customs, art, craft, language, music, dance and folklore

  • Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts funding cultural programmes, educating the public, working with community groups
  • National groups associated with different cultural groups promoting and supporting culture
  • CARIFESTA supporting and promoting culture of the countries in the region
• The Caribbean is a very diverse area, boasting of a large variety of cultures, races, religions, etc. due to the history of the region

  
• Contributions of the Amerindians to Caribbean culture

  • Crops
  • Cooking methods
  • Medicinal plants
  • Basketry
  • Pottery
  • Woodcarving
  • Hammocks
  • Canoes

  
• At the national level there is the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts which supports and promotes the culture of the various groups within the country
• There are also national groups associated with different cultural groups which promotes and support culture in the country
• At the regional level there is CARIFESTA which supports and promotes culture of the countries in the region
• Requirements for group cohesion

  • Leadership
  • Control
  • Cooperation
  • Authority
  • Commitment and loyalty

  
• Leadership


  Someone who has the responsibility for setting the goal for the group and for coordinating the activities of the members in order to ensure the goal is achieved and that the members' needs are met
• Control


  Groups must have rules/norms which regulate the behaviour of members and promote order and stability within the group when members follow them
• Cooperation


  Members must pool their ideas, skills and resources and work together to achieve the group's goals
• Authority


  The leader must have power/authority and he/she must be prepared to use it to direct the activities of the members, allocate resources, and apply sanctions
• Commitment/loyalty


  Members must take a personal interest in the success of the group
• If any of the factors for group cohesion is not there, it will affect the group's ability to stay together and to achieve its goal

  
• Group cohesion


  • Shared goals
  • Cooperation
  • Authority
  • Commitment/loyalty
• Role of leaders in ensuring group cohesion

  • Direct the activities of the members
  • Allocate resources for accomplishing tasks
  • Apply sanctions when members do anything that may conflict with the group's rules or prevent it from achieving its goals
  • Members must respect the leader's authority

  
• Main institutions in society

  • Economic
  • Financial
  • Educational
  • Recreational
  • Religious
  • Political
• Economic institutions


  • Banks, trade unions, credit unions, insurance companies, farms, factories, primary, secondary and tertiary sectors
  • To finance production
  • To cater to financial needs of customers (accept deposits, generate interest on $ deposited, to offer loans, etc)
  • To insure goods
  • To produce raw materials
  • To produce manufactured goods, to distribute/transport these goods
• Financial institutions


  National banks, Regional banks, Commercial banks
• Educational institutions


  • Teach basic reading, writing and numeracy skills
  • Teach knowledge and skills for specific jobs
  • Transmit the norms, beliefs and values/culture of society
  • Seek to inculcate critical thinking skills
  • Prepare the individual for life in society
  • Seeks total development of the individual (spiritual, moral, educational and physical)
• Recreational institutions


  • Help members to be physically and mentally healthier
  • Encourage rest, stress relief and relaxation which is necessary to health and for a productive workforce
• Religious institutions


  • Gives us purpose - provides members with a reason for their existence
  • Helps to comfort those in distress
  • Membership provides a sense of belonging
  • Provides guidelines for behaviour (and so ensures social control as well)
  • Provides social assistance to those in need and their membership and so compliments the functions of the family, political and other institutions
• Political institutions


  • Makes laws for the country
  • Administers sanctions to those who break the law
  • Settles disputes among groups through the court system
  • Makes policies for the country
  • Protects citizens, defends the country internally and internationally
  • Maintains international relations with other countries
  • Ensures general order, social control and stability in society
  • Manages the resources of the country
  • Represents the rights and interests of workers (trade unions)
• Factors influencing voter participation


  • Reasons why some people may not vote
  • Ways to get young persons interested in elections

  
• Agricultural products of some Caribbean countries

  • Sugar cane
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Citrus fruits
  • Bananas
  • Pineapples
  • Mangoes