Life Orientation: Culture, Health, Society, Environment, and Human Rights

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering culture, HIV/AIDS, nation building, trauma and grief, gender equity and equality, environmental responsibility, and human rights.

Culture

The way of life of a particular group of people, which includes language, beliefs, food, clothing, music and dance, and traditions.

Cultural diversity

Having different cultures, languages, religions, beliefs, and traditions within one society.

Cultural practices

Customs followed by a particular cultural group, such as traditional weddings, initiation ceremonies, and traditional dances.

Cultural norms

The expected behaviours of a culture.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus; a virus that attacks the body's immune system, weakens its ability to fight infections, and can be controlled with treatment.

AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; the most advanced stage and condition of HIV that occurs when HIV has severely weakened the immune system, which can be prevented with treatment.

Nation building

The process of bringing people from different backgrounds together to bring unity, peace, equality, national identity, and development.

Ubuntu

A foundational idea that supports nation-building alongside the concept of The Rainbow Nation.

The Rainbow Nation

An idea that supports nation-building by promoting unity and bringing people from diverse backgrounds together.

Trauma

An emotional response to a very upsetting, frightening experience such as an accident, violence, disaster, or witnessing someone being killed.

Grief

The emotional pain a person experiences after losing someone or something, such as a family member, a close friend, or a beloved pet.

Stages of grief

The five identified stages: denial, anger, wishing things could have happened differently, depression, and acceptance.

Gender equity

Treating people the same regardless of their gender by ensuring everyone gets the specific support they need to achieve fairness.

Gender equality

The principle that people of all genders have equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities.

Gender-based violence (GBV)

Violence directed at someone specifically because of their gender.

Physical violence

A form of violence characterized by hurting someone's body.

Emotional violence

A form of violence characterized by hurting someone's feelings.

Psychological violence

A form of violence characterized by making someone feel scared.

Environment

Everything around us, encompassing both living things and non-living things.

Environmental responsibility

Taking care of the environment and using natural resources wisely in order to protect them.

Renewable resources

Natural resources that can be naturally replaced, including water, air, soil, trees, and sunlight.

Non-renewable resources

Natural resources that are limited in quantity and cannot be easily replaced.

Deforestation

The cutting down of trees, which causes soil erosion, loss of animal habitats, increased carbon dioxide, and loss of biodiversity.

Climate change

Environmental shifts caused by burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions, leading to droughts, flooding, and extreme weather.

Human rights

Basic rights and freedoms that every person is entitled to, protected in South Africa by the Constitution.

SAHRC

South African Human Right Comission; an official body where human rights violations can be reported.

SAPS

South African Police Services; a law enforcement agency where human rights violations can be reported.

Violation of privacy

A human rights violation that occurs when a person's information or home is invaded without a legal reason.

Suppression of free speech

A human rights violation that involves being silenced from speaking your mind.

Child labour and abuse

A human rights violation that involves forcing children to work in poor conditions.