Society and Environment Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary greenhouse gas produced by coal-fired power stations?

Carbon dioxide (correct)

Methane

Sulphur trioxide

Nitrogen oxide

What harmful effect does sulphur trioxide have when it combines with water vapour?

Increases greenhouse gases

Promotes climate change

Causes acid rain (correct)

Produces toxic waste

What is a consequence of the destruction of forests and wetlands on the environment?

Increased recycling rates

Reduced ability to purify the environment (correct)

Greater biodiversity

Enhanced air quality

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a business responsibility in the principles outlined?

Implementing sustainable practices Signup and view all the answers

Which principle emphasizes the importance of businesses not complicity participating in crimes?

Principle One Signup and view all the answers

What health hazards can result from mining processes?

Toxic waste leaching into water resources Signup and view all the answers

How do human activities impact the environment, according to the content?

They contribute to an increasing amount of waste products in nature. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key responsibilities businesses should uphold according to the principles?

Support the elimination of child labour Signup and view all the answers

What primary method do individuals use to learn culture within their societies?

Direct instruction and observation Signup and view all the answers

How does belonging to a group influence a person's identity?

It helps in the creation of shared beliefs and values. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of group membership is emphasized regarding people who do not belong?

Exclusion practices Signup and view all the answers

What is the intended outcome of acquiring knowledge about identity formation?

To enhance self-awareness and understanding Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential danger associated with fixed identities mentioned in the content?

Negative targeting of individuals Signup and view all the answers

What do individuals become aware of as they interrogate assumptions about identities?

The processes through which identities are formed and changed Signup and view all the answers

Which two study units are mentioned for further exploration of identity?

The building blocks of identity and signalling identity Signup and view all the answers

What types of messages can influence how individuals label and categorize others?

Communications from friends, family, and media Signup and view all the answers

What is one possible outcome of living in a cosmopolitan environment?

Questioning of established identities Signup and view all the answers

What often strengthens the fundamentalist reaction in various regions?

A perceived presence of American imperialism Signup and view all the answers

What does fundamentalism often refuse to engage with, according to Giddens?

Alternative values and lifestyles Signup and view all the answers

What attitude is often observed among previously colonizing countries towards their former colonies?

Undialogical and ethnocentric attitudes Signup and view all the answers

What might lead to a militant reassertion of identity?

Perceived submersion of local identities Signup and view all the answers

How does Giddens characterize the position of fundamentalists in heterogeneous societies?

A dangerous refusal to dialogue Signup and view all the answers

What has often characterized the interaction between white and black people in South Africa?

Unwillingness to listen to differing viewpoints Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of globalization is viewed negatively by many in the Middle East?

The dominance of American interests Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method used by states to determine access to citizenship rights?

The production of identification documents Signup and view all the answers

What term is used to describe identities that cross national borders?

Transnational identities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential consequence of being declared a 'non-person' by the state?

Loss of citizenship privileges Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes transnational communities?

Common activities and shared beliefs Signup and view all the answers

Subnational cultures can be based on which of the following aspects?

Shared regional history Signup and view all the answers

What forms the basis of many transnational identities like those in religious communities?

Common religious practices Signup and view all the answers

What example illustrates a secular organization that constitutes a transnational community?

The Boy Scouts Signup and view all the answers

In what context might individuals be frequently asked to provide identification?

At places requiring services like banks and voting stations Signup and view all the answers

What was the traditional rule regarding racial classification in the United States?

If one of your eight grandparents was black, so were you. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the concept of race in Brazil?

An individual's race may change based on various factors, including appearance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used among some Native American cultures for individuals who embody both male and female roles?

Two-spirit Signup and view all the answers

How does the classification of gender differ from racial classification in many societies?

Gender roles and identities can vary widely among different societies. Signup and view all the answers

What significant event occurred in Nepal related to gender classification?

A woman was issued a government identity card as belonging to a third gender. Signup and view all the answers

What does the presence of multiple gender categories in some societies suggest about gender classification?

It highlights the fluidity and social construction of gender roles. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of gender is generally agreed upon, despite cultural differences?

There are strictly two biological sexes. Signup and view all the answers

What does political reality concerning gender identity often challenge?

Academic discussions on gender. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Coconut' refer to in South Africa?

A black person who embraces Western values Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'Khoekhoen'?

Men of men Signup and view all the answers

Which term is a derogatory label used for foreign individuals in South Africa?

Makwerekwere Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Black diamond' refer to in South African context?

Members of the black middle class Signup and view all the answers

How do naming practices affect identity in South Africa?

They can either include or exclude individuals Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Hottentots' signify in the context of identity?

A derogatory label from outsiders Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a derogatory term for South Africans of British descent?

Soutie/Rooinek Signup and view all the answers

What is often the result of using derogatory labels in society?

Exclusion and division among communities Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Identity

Globalisation leads to questioning rigid identities or reinforcing traditional ones (including fundamentalism).
Perceived American imperialism strengthens fundamentalist reactions in some regions.
Fundamentalism is a refusal to dialogue, asserting superiority, and intolerance.
Colonial influence and ethnocentric attitudes can hinder dialogue, as seen in former colonies.
Identities can be transnational (e.g., religious, Boy Scouts), subnational (regional, language, class), and racial.

Environmental Concerns

Coal-fired power plants produce carbon dioxide and other harmful gases (e.g., sulphur trioxide).
Paper manufacturing and mining release harmful effluents and waste.
Environmental capacity to process waste is lessened by deforestation and wetlands destruction.
Growing economies and populations increase waste production.

United Nations Global Compact

Unisa (University of South Africa) supports the UN Global Compact.
The Global Compact outlines corporate responsibilities.
Examples include respecting human rights, eliminating child labor, and preventing discrimination.

Formation of Identity

Culture is learned through observation and interaction with others.
Shared beliefs and values contribute to identity.
Groups signal who belongs and who doesn't. Labels (usually from others) can establish inclusion or exclusion.
Everyday interactions & media influence how we label others.

Identity Markers and Diversity

Identities are marked by both sameness and difference.
Identity markers include names, physical characteristics, gender, and nationality.

Aspects of Identity:

Transnational identity: Identities transcending national boundaries (e.g., religious, Boy Scouts).
Subnational cultures: Identities within a nation based on region, language, class, history, or religion (e.g., US racial classifications, South African apartheid).
Racial classification: Often arbitrary and socially constructed (e.g. Brazil)
Gender classification: Also socially constructed, existing on a possible spectrum (more than just 2).
Third gender: Societies recognizing more than two genders are not uncommon (e.g., Berdaches, recent recognition in Nepal).
Naming: Names can empower (self-chosen) or marginalize (imposed by others). (e.g. Khoekhoen and Hottentot)

Citizenship and Identity Documents

States and corporations use identification documents to prove citizenship.
Access to rights and privileges is controlled by official identification.
Individuals can be denied rights (e.g. illegal immigrants) by being declared non-persons.

South African Identities

Specific derogatory terms used to categorize South Africans.
Examples include: Soutie/Rooinek (British descent), Coconut (black with Western values), Black diamond (black middle class), Rockspider(Afrikaner South African).
Identity is often marked by labels, which can be positive or negative.
Xenophobia (fear or hatred of foreigners) is an example of negative labelling leading to attacks.

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Description

This quiz explores the complexities of identity in a globalized world, the impact of environmental concerns, and the role of international compacts like the UN Global Compact. It examines how globalization affects notions of identity, environmental issues caused by industrial practices, and the importance of sustainable dialogue among nations.