Sociological

ConceptsStudy Unit 2

By C. Settley

OUTCOMES Define the concepts of: Society Community Describe the characteristics of: Society Community Discuss the interaction between urban and rural

communities Analyse the main difference between rural and urban

communities Explain why the knowledge of rural and urban communities

is important to the nurse Explore informal settlements and squatter communities

Society defined

organisational system within which man

gives expression to his social nature by

interaction with his fellow men.

group of human beings who interact with

one another

major interests which usually include self-

maintenance

Characteristics of a society page 8 in reader

Definite territory- occupies an area

Continuity of relationships- different sexes

A functioning group- social groups

Sexual reproduction- source of increase in

people

A comprehensive culture- groups who

represent different cultures

Independence- not a subgroup

Community defined

Is part of a society.

A subgroup with many of the

characteristics of society.

But is restricted to certain groups within

the larger society.

It is the smallest group with a common /

shared way of life.

Characteristics of a

Commuinitypage 8 in reader

A common territory

Special bonds of unit- race, religion, etc

Provision of institutions & organisations-

schools, churches

Community feeling- sense of belonging.

Roles to play in the community

Interaction between urban

and Rural areasChapter 5, page 10 in reader

Interaction in the country takes place to a greater or lesser degree depending on factors such as distance, rivers, mountains etc. nature of soil and availability of raw materials.

Town is supplied with raw materials from the country.

Finished articles which are made in town from these raw materials are supplied to town markets

There is always interaction between urban and rural

There’s more social interaction between rural and urban due to the development of roads, motor and air transport, there’s more social interaction

Interaction between urban

and Rural areasContinued

People from towns can more easily visit

urban areas and vice versa

The development of boarder industries is

bringing urbanisation to more of the black

people than in the past.

Figure 1: A simplified view of the urban-rural interrelationship.(Graphic: Stig Enemark.)

Urban and Rural areas

Urban area Rural area

Urbanization Urbanization results from various factors which

include industrialization. (The process in which a

society or country transforms itself from a primarily

agricultural society into one based on the

manufacturing of goods and services )

Industrialization has subsequently brought about

utilizing of agriculture, thus displacing rural workers

from the land (Kirk 1980: 28)

The migration of people from rural to urban areas

has not only created the need for urban social

services such as education and health but has put

pressure on the physical infrastructure such as

housing, water and other social services.

Urbanization South African informal settlements vary

greatly in their setting, population size, density,

social stratification, levels of wealth and

poverty and social organizations, political

division and conflict (Smith 2001: 20).

People came to live in such settlements for a

variety of reasons.

Fundamental to their reasons is usually the

question of finding places to stay. Because of

housing backlogs, squatter settlements were

being established despite harsh measures

imposed against this practice.

Urbanization Informal settlements are a direct result of the

removal of influx control (in South Africa during

the apartheid era-the rigid limitation and control

imposed upon the movement of black people

into urban areas) legislation and this has led to a

flood of people migrating from rural areas to

urban areas.

This, among other things, leads to a high density

of population and lack of accommodation in

the townships

VIDEOIncreasing rate of Urbanisation in SA

South African Urbanisation

Main differences page 12 in reader

Rural (country)

More homogenous

Personal relationships are more real

Far more social control, customary norms (SANCTIONS)

Less social mobility

Less changes in the rural area with regard to political and religious affiliations

Rural areas show more stability

Less diversity of occupations

Higher birth rate

Lower divorce rate

Lower suicide rate

Urban (town)

Heterogenes (mixed)

Status plays a big role in town-fewer personal relationships in town

Low social control.

Social mobility higher, more fluid (higher paced)

Political &religious affiliations are viewed with more tolerance.

More social change.

Greater diversity of occupations.

Lower birth rate

Higher divorce rate

Higher suicide rate

Informal settlements

Factors contributing to informal settlements

Depopulation of the platteland

Rapid urbanisation,

Lack of work in the rural areas

Hope/belief that things will be better in the town

When they arrive they find there is no housing, usually no work. Leads to poverty / unemployment.

Factors contributing to

informal settlementsContinued

Lack of education and skills for what work might be available.

These people find an area of vacant land and start to build some form of shelter with bits of wood, plastic, odd pieces of corrugated iron and other buildings materials they can find

Almost overnight there is a squatter camp, eg Joe Slovo in Langa, Cape Town

Physical, psychological and social

consequences of informal

settlements

Usually no water, no sanitation facilities , no health services -the scene is set for health problems.

Also as a result of overcrowding, lack of disposal of refuse, no proper shelter, especially bad in Western Cape Winter colds, no work, no food.

Local municipalities have a very difficult problem trying to cope with health hazards of such situations

Including epidemics, many sick children, street children, etc.

Some areas there are more squatter huts than conventional houses

Planned informal settlements – at least some from of communal water supply and some type of sanitation is arranged. Mobile clinics supply some from of health service.

Video LANDLESS

COMMUNITY HEALTH

References

Stig Enemark University of Aalborg, Denmark. Retrieved on 07/08/2014 on website: http://www.fig.net/pub/figpub/pub33/figpub33.htm

http://blackbusinessnow.com/author/gillian-nanton/

Kirk, G. 1980. Urban Planning in a capitalist city, London: Groom Helm.