LIFE ORIENTATION

GRADE 10
CLASS NOTES

TERM 1
WEEK 1-3
Chapter 1 : Development of the self in society
1. Strategies to develop self-awareness, self-esteem and self-
development

1.1. Concepts
Self-awareness
How good you know yourself regarding interests, skills, strengths and
weaknesses, likes and dislikes, goals, values and beliefs.

Self-esteem
How much you like yourself and how confident you are.

Self-development
How you improve yourself by building up your strengths, improve your
weaknesses, develop your life skills and become the best person you
can be.

1.2. Factors that influence self-awareness and self-esteem

 What other people say about you

 What happens in your life
 How well you cope with challenges
 How you respond to successes and failures
 How popular you are
 The media – newspapers, magazines, TV, and all social media
sources like Facebook, Mxit, etc.

1.3. Strategies to build confidence in yourself and others

 Good communication skills

 Assertive attitude
 - Say what you want to say clearly
- Be positive and respectful
- Know what you want
- Have a tall and straight body posture
- State your viewpoint clearly
- Be polite
 Complete tasks and projects successfully by managing your time
effectively
 Participate in community organisations
 Make good decisions
- Evaluate the situation
- Get information about the different options
- Consider the consequences of each decision
- Choose the best option
- Act on your decision

2. Power and gender

2.1 Concepts

Term: Explanation
Gender: Roles, behaviours, activities and qualities that society sees as
suitable for men / women.
Gender is learnt, it is not a biological function.
Sex: Biological qualities that define men and women.
Female and male: Groupings according to sex.
Feminine and masculine: Grouping according to gender.
Power relations: Sharing of power between people in a relationship. You
may have a dominant and a submissive partner in a relationship.
Dominance is often determined by gender and sex. Men have
traditionally more power than women.

2.2. Differences between a woman and a man

 The most obvious differences between the sexes are biological

in nature.
Example :
Women
 Menstruate
 Ovaries that produce eggs
 Have two x chromosomes ( XX )
 Vagina is inside the body
 Give birth
 Smaller and lighter with less bone mass
 Less upper body strength
 More white blood cells
 Puberty starts two years before boys
 Fertility lessens after the age of 35
 Higher levels of the hormone oestrogen
 Less body hair
 Skull is thinner and weaker
 Have to work harder to build muscle

Men
 No menstruation
 Testicles that produce sperm
 Have one X and one Y chromosome ( XY )
 Penis is outside the body
 Do not give birth
 Taller and heavier with more bone mass
 More upper body strength
 More red blood cells
 Puberty starts two years after girls
 Fertile till old age
 Higher levels of the hormone testosterone
 More body hair
 Skull is thicker and stronger
 Build muscles easily

2.3. Stereotypical views of gender roles and responsibilities

 Women may earn less than men for certain work
 Men are promoted to positions of power instead of women
 Men are allowed to smoke, drink and have affairs in some
societies, while women are not.
 Male sports teams get more funding and media coverage than
women teams.
 Women have to do more housework than men.
  Women play a larger role in parenting.
 Some careers are traditionally seen as just for men.

2.4. Influence of gender inequality on relationships and general

well-being

 Sexual abuse and violence

- When women/girls are involved in relationships where power is
not equal, men may decide on the conditions under which sex
happens. This may mean forced sex.
- Includes rape, incest and violent sexual acts.
- Some men are violent toward women and beat them up.

 Teenage pregnancy
- Peer pressure
- Lack of information
- Poverty
- Rape
- Forced to get pregnant to prove fertility

 STIs including HIV/AIDS

- Women have no say in the use of protective measures
- Age-mixing in a relationship ( sugar daddies / sugar mommies )
- More than one partner
- Transactional sex ( sex that is paid for )
- Rape

Chapter 2 : Physical education : Fitness

1. Value of participating in exercise programs

1.1. Types of fitness

Type of fitness
Explanation
Types of exercises
 Cardiovascular fitness
Have a strong heart and capillary vessels and a large lung capacity .
walking dancing
cycling aerobics
running

 Muscular strength
Strong muscles and tendons.
Weight lifting
Step climbing
Resistance exercises

 Endurance
The ability to exercise for a long time without getting tired.
Cycling
Jogging
swimming

 Flexibility
The ability to move your joints and use your muscles through their full
range of motion.
Stretching
Swimming
Yoga

1.2. Why regular physical activity ?

 Reduces stress, worry and depression

 Helps you to relax
 Makes you feel more confident
 Helps you to sleep well
 Improves brain functioning