Studying
about your
environment, you should
be able to:
guide your self-development, using knowledge of your potential and capabilities
adopt culturally approved behavior and avoid irresponsible behavior
acquire life-long values and positive attitudes
maintain good health and good gender relations with family and friends
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SELF IDENTITY
INTRODUCTION
Many Ghanaians hardly find the opportunity to identify their capabilities. A lack of knowledge of one’s capability leads to the inability to set realistic goals for life. This then leads to non-achievement of one’s capabilities and potential, which in turn leads to disappointments in life
Many Ghanaians don’t get the opportunity to develop their capabilities. This leads to the inability to set realistic goals for life, non-achievement of one’s capabilities and potential, and disappointment.
Defining ‘Self’?
“Self” refers to the whole person as an individual (the personal physiological nature and capabilities of the person)
One’s capabilities refer to what the person can do, including one’s ability to:
think
remember
invent
create
solve problems
and control the environment.
False identity
An example of false identity is when a student pretends to be from a rich family when actually he or she is from a poor home.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory
Abraham Maslow, a sociologist, propounded a theory of needs stating that Man has a basic need of satisfying his hunger and shelter first before thinking of the higher need for self-esteem.
People work to achieve their goals and improve themselves. Improving one’s identity and capacity depends on a combination of advice and principles from a number of sources.
To achieve a lot for one’s nation, citizens need to identify and improve on their potential and capabilities.
How to develop one’s capabilities to achieve one’s ambitions
There must be:
the desire and self-determination
preparedness to take risks
preparedness to set new goals
preparedness to learn new things and
willingness to venture into new areas of work
Education and training can help in discovering and developing one’s capabilities.
How to assert oneself and build self-confidence
Self-assertion and confidence are vital to self-development and achievement.
They can be built by enabling environmental factors such as:
encouragement from parents
encouragement from teachers
encouragement from peers
self-determination
training and financial upliftment
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ADOLESCENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Introduction
Factors contributing to adolescent health risks in Ghana include the following:
too little factual information
too little guidance about sexual responsibility and
too little access to healthcare
These often result in the following:
irresponsible sexual relationship
adolescent pregnancies
adolescent denial of paternity of pregnancies
child abandonment
Defining adolescence
It is the period of life between childhood and adulthood (between the ages of 10–19 years).
According to World Health Organization(WHO), there are:
Early adolescence (ten to fourteen years)
Late adolescence (fifteen to nineteen years)
Reproductive health
This refers to a state of complete mental, physical, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system and its functions and processes.
What are reproductive rights?
The basic rights of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly, the number, spacing, and timing of their children, the information, and the means to do so.
It is also the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.
They include the right of all to make decisions concerning reproduction free from discrimination, coercion, and violence
Adolescent health
Knowledge of the reproductive features should remind adolescents of their gender.
Needed care and hygiene of their reproductive parts should be their major concern.
Adolescents should avoid any negative acts relating to the use of their private parts e.g.
Boys should eschew masturbation and homosexuality
Girls should avoid lesbianism and the insertion of foreign materials into their vagina
Irresponsible behaviors of the adolescent and their consequence
The following are included among the Irresponsible behaviors of adolescents in Ghana:
pre-marital sex
prostitution
armed robbery
drunkenness
drug abuse
homosexuality (sodomy and lesbianism or “supism”)
examination malpractices
Consequences of irresponsible adolescent behavior
These include pregnancy, school drop-out, contraction of HIV/STDs, abortion, death, single parenthood, etc.
Drug abuse often leads to madness, social misfit, and school drop-out are some of the consequences.
What can adolescents do to be safe?
adolescents should seek medical attention
they should speak to their parents and elders about their problems
they should do a lot of exercises too
Causes of irresponsible behaviors of the adolescent
The early part of adolescence is a stage of heightened emotions.
The adolescent begins to experience heightened feelings.
He or she may be very sensitive and react strongly to events.
The implication of irresponsible behaviors of the adolescent
The above can result in:
sexually transmitted diseases(STIs) including HIV/AIDS,
unwanted pregnancy etc.
Fostering good gender relations
Good gender relation is:
one of mutual respect and equity between the genders
to ensure that both sexes have access to information, education, and services needed to achieve good sexual health
and exercise their reproductive rights and responsibilities
provide opportunities for boys and girls to mix during all school functions under close supervision
Adolescent chastity and its benefit
Chastity is the act of total abstinence from sexually related activities.
Childbearing and sexual activities are risky to adolescents especially. They are therefore required to remain chaste.
Self-assessment
State any three adolescent reproductive rights.
State two characteristics of male and female adolescents.
State any three irresponsible adolescent behaviors and give their consequences.
Why is it not advisable to consult your peers when you have adolescent health problems?
How do you account for the rising waves of irresponsible sexual behavior among adolescents?
State ways in which good gender relations can be built.
Write an essay on “Why adolescent chastity should be encouraged”
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OUR CULTURE AND NATIONAL IDENTITY
Introduction
Every society has challenges, problems, and needs, and the means by which they address them is what becomes their cultural practice.
Ghana’s socio-cultural practices come from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Because of this, some of them tend to divide us rather than unite us.
Other cultural practices however are common to the various ethnic groups in Ghana and can be used to unify the country and build our national heritage.
Unfortunately, the unifying force of our different cultures has not had much attention.
How culture evolves
Culture is a response by society to meet the problems and challenges of the time.
every society has problems and challenges developing over time
these problems and challenges change with time
different practices are developed to meet the challenges and problems as they develop e.g music, farming practices, clothing, food
with time some of the practices become obsolete and don’t meet society’s needs and should be abrogated.
Some of Ghana’s cultural practices include widowhood rites, ancestral worship, systems of marriage, not working on certain days, trokosi, female genital mutilation, taboos, and certain rites of passage.
Positive aspects of festivals
The following are some positive aspects of festivals in Ghanaian:
they serve as periods for homecoming
they offer the opportunity to make contributions toward the development
they promote unity and good relationship among family members
during homecoming, people meet new and old relations
clean up exercises are undertaken which are good for healthy living
Examples of negative aspects of culture
Widowhood rites dehumanize women.
Trokosi enslaves women and negates Human Rights.
Female Genital Mutilation negates human rights.
Aspects
of Ghanaian culture that bind us together
Festivals, funerals, marriage ceremonies, outdoorings, music and dance, naming ceremonies, and chieftaincy, are examples of the cultural practices that bind us together.
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NATIONAL IDENTITY
National identity includes the behaviors, traits and ideas that are commonly shared by the people of a nation.
Having a national identity also means that one sees oneself as part of his/her nation and relates to the symbols, traits, or psychological feelings connected with the nation and not only to his/her tribe or ethnic group.
Feelings that bind an individual to a higher entity e.g. the state are referred to as allegiance.
Some of the national and traditional symbols include the coat of arms, the national flag, the Independence Ark, Sankofa, Gye Nyame, and the Ghanaian currency.
Shared values are virtues such as modesty, humility, respect, concern for others, hospitality, tolerance, and resilience.
Self-assessment
Identify some elements of Ghanaian culture that bind us together as one people.
How does each of the national symbols instill allegiance?
Which Ghanaian cultural values and traits help to provide a positive image for the country and how?
Suggest how National integration can be achieved by Ghanaian common values and traits.
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