1.Read the following case study and apply Bronfenbrenner’s ecosystemic model on the case study to explain factors that influence Inonge’s personal and social well-being. Use relevent refences and intext refencing. Your essay should employ the following concepts:
1.Microsystem
2.Mesosystem
3.Exosystem
4.Macrosystem
5.Chronosystem
Inonge is 13 years old. She is the oldest of five children and has four younger brothers. They live with their mother , father and paternal grandfather in a small house in a semi-rural area near the town of Pemba in southern Zambia , where she attends a local school. The situation at home is not easy for inonge . Her mother and father both work on local farms, but they have to travel a long way and get back late. Her grandfather is at home most if the time, but he does very little to help around the house. He believes looking after the home and children is women’s work. Inonge as the eldest girl, is therefore expected to look after her the younger children when she gets back from school, supervise the boys homework , clean, prepare the evening meal and get her own homework done. She has very little time to be with others of he own age. Her father is very strict and like his own father, believes that he should be looked after by women in the house. He seldom talks to inonge except to give her instructions. When he is not pleased with something she has done, he tends to complain to his wife and not to inonge directly at the moment, he is also having a difficult time at work, where he is threatened with losing his job. This is creating a lot of tension in the household, so that inonge ‘s father is drinking more than usual and often loses his temper. Inonge is like her mother, who tends to be quite and unassertive. although inonge gets on well enough with her mother, she seldom gets much support from her when tension is high. by nature, inonge doesn’t find controlling the boys an easy task. The four boys also identify strongly with their father and grandfather, and she doesn’t get much support from them either. In any case, even in her mother’s eyes, the boys tend to be the favored ones. Apart from all this time , the other children do not generally see inonge as one of them . she has to supervise and control them, so they see her more as another adult than a sister. Because of this, she is bright her homework is often poorly done, or not done at all, and she often feels tired in class. The principal and the majority of teachers in this school see schools and home as separate- a view that is generally held in this community as well as well – so that little is done to build bridges between the two. Inonge’s own class teacher has never enquired about her home circumstances. He is an authoritarian teacher who rules the class very critically and strictly, thus a common pattern that has developed in this class for the teacher to be critical of the students, and the students to be critical of one other. Because Inonge is criticized for her poor scholastic performance and wants to make up for it, she takes on a role of the teacher’s helper wherever she can. Unfortunately, the teacher often exploits this. It has also not helped her in her peer relation. The class of 45 children is more or less evenly dived between boys and girls, who are seated in separate rows. The boys tend to dominate and are especially critical of the girls. Because Inonge is quite and unassertive, the other girls are also critical of her and tend to boss her around. Also, while most other children have friends from around their homes in the class, she has dad little time to make such friends, so she tends to be quite isolated in the classroom.
Inonge's personal and social well-being is influenced by various factors within her environment, as highlighted by Bronfenbrenner’s ecosystemic model.
Firstly, at the microsystem level, the interactions and relationships within her immediate environment play a significant role in shaping Inonge's well-being. Inonge's family dynamics, where she is expected to take on a caretaking role for her younger siblings, impacts her time and energy for social interactions with peers. Her father's strictness and lack of communication with her, as well as her mother's passive nature, further contribute to the strain on her social and personal development.
Secondly, the mesosystem, or the interactions between different microsystems, also plays a role in Inonge's well-being. The lack of communication and support between her family members, especially during times of high tension, leaves Inonge feeling isolated and overwhelmed in her responsibilities. Additionally, the disconnect between the school and home environments, where teachers do not inquire about students' home circumstances, further exacerbates Inonge's struggles.
Furthermore, the exosystem, which includes external influences that indirectly impact Inonge, such as her father's difficulties at work and subsequent increase in alcohol consumption, adds to the tension within the household. This, in turn, affects Inonge's emotional well-being and ability to thrive in her home environment.
Moreover, the macrosystem, which encompasses the larger cultural and societal norms, influences Inonge's experiences within her community and school. The traditional gender roles within her family and community, where women are expected to take on caregiving roles, contribute to Inonge's burden as the eldest daughter. The authoritarian teaching style and lack of support from teachers further impact Inonge's academic performance and self-esteem.
Lastly, the chronosystem, which includes the changes and transitions over time, also plays a role in Inonge's well-being. The ongoing challenges within her family, coupled with the lack of support and understanding from her teachers and peers, create a constant source of stress and isolation for Inonge, impacting her overall well-being.
In conclusion, Inonge's personal and social well-being is influenced by multiple factors within her ecosystems, from the dynamics within her family to the interactions at school and within her community. Addressing these factors and creating a more supportive and nurturing environment for Inonge is crucial for her overall development and happiness.
References:
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.