DIGGING INTO THE CONCEPT Belonging Introduction

Belonging is a concept... is shown in texts in a variety of ways....impacts on our identity & sense of self.

Belonging offers Connections to: Family Place Race Culture Community Nation Many of these begin at birth.

Patriotism, Nationalism & Culture

Friendship

Texts can explore positive associations with belonging.

Texts can also explore the problems connected with not belonging

A sense of Not Belonging can generate negative feelings of: Alienation Disaffection Estrangement Dislocation Isolation Marginalisation Rebellion

Activity 1 Read the ‘truisms’ about Belonging. Are they totally accurate? In pairs/small groups, think of examples where they might not always ring true. Be prepared to share with the class.

Activity 1 – Truisms “People feel fulfilled when they belong.” “Belonging is important to everyone.” “Not belonging fosters a sense of unworthiness and loneliness.” “Belonging takes time.” “When given the choice, people will always choose to belong.”

Developing a Thesis Avoid writing a ‘truism’ about belonging in your essays. A thesis should NOT be a factual statement. It should be a personalised observation about what ‘belonging’ signifies. You need to prove your thesis through logical analysis.

Activity 2 – Harry Harlow Monkey Experiment... View the clip on YouTube. Click here. What does this say about ‘belonging’?

Activity 3 – What others say... To ‘dig’ into the concept more, let’s look at what others say about belonging. For each quote, write down what you think the speaker really means.

Quotes on Belonging “Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.” ~ Bertrand Russel ~

Quotes on Belonging “Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world.” ~ Susan Lieberman~

Quotes on Belonging “In union there is strength.” ~ Aesop ~

Quotes on Belonging “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.” ~ Kenyan Proverb ~

Quotes on Belonging “We may have different religions, different languages, different coloured skin, but we all belong to one human race.” ~ Kofi Annan ~

Quotes on Belonging “There are realities we all share, regardless of our nationality, language or individual tastes. As we need food, so do we need emotional nourishment: love, kindness, appreciation, and support from others. We need to understand our environment and our relationship to it. We need to fulfil certain inner hungers: the need for happiness, for peace of mind – for wisdom.” ~ J. Donald Walters ~

Quotes on Belonging “Many of us are also nourished by friends, whom we love as family. We belong not only to them but also to other loved ones, to our neighbourhood, our town, our state, our country and our world.” ~ Peggy O’Mara ~

Quotes on Belonging “Home...is where I drew my first breath. It is where I will always derive a sense of place and a sense of belonging.” ~ Paul Tsongas ~

Quotes on Belonging “In all cultures, the family imprints its members with selfhood. Human experience of identity has two elements; a sense of belonging and a sense of being separate. The laboratory in which these ingredients are mixed and dispensed is the family, the matrix of identity.” ~ Salvador Minuchin ~

Quotes on Belonging “The conflict between the need to belong to a group and the need to be seen as unique and individual is the dominant struggle of adolescence.” ~ Jeanne Elium ~

Discoveries about Belonging? After discussing the quotes, what have you personally learnt or discovered about belonging? (Your teacher will ask you to record this.)

Activity 4 – Consequences of Belonging Look carefully at the table. Fill in the opposing columns. Work with a friend or team. Be prepared to share with the class & offer examples to clarify your ideas.

Consequences of Belonging/Not Belonging Belonging in a positive sense + Belonging in a negative sense - Not belonging in a positive sense + Not belonging in a negative sense - Sense of place Independence Co-operation Isolation Acceptance / Inclusion Self- determination Social pressure Seclusion / Loneliness Peer pressure Autonomy Mob mentality Sense of unworthiness Uniformity Personal fulfilment

Consequences of Belonging/Not Belonging Belonging in a positive sense + Belonging in a negative sense - Not belonging in a positive sense + Not belonging in a negative sense - Sense of placeConformity IndependenceAlienation Co-operationLoss of freedom IndividualismIsolation Acceptance / Inclusion Totalitarianis m Self- determination Separation / Estrangement Family & community Social pressure Freedom of expression Seclusion / Loneliness RelationshipsPeer pressure AutonomySegregation / Disengagement Sense of security Mob mentality Self-assuranceSense of unworthiness UniformityPressures to conform Personal fulfilment Disillusionmen t / Confusion

Activity 4 – Share Your Responses Have you discovered any other new insights into ‘Belonging’?

Activity 5 – Exploring the Concept in Texts Activity 5. a) Telstra Ad: “We Are Australian” View the advertisement on YouTube. Click here. Respond to the questions.

Telstra Ad Is this an effective ad for Telstra? Why or why not? How does it appeal to responders’ emotions? What belonging ideas can you identify? How were they communicated?

Exploring the Concept in Texts Activity 5. b) Radio Excerpt: “Haywire – The Voice of Regional Youth” Listen to the radio excerpt. Respond to the questions.

Radio Excerpt What positive aspects of belonging are conveyed? How much does ‘place’ impact on our sense of belonging? Imagine you were someone who disagreed with the speaker. Who might you be? Explain your opposing views.

Exploring the Concept in Texts Activity 5. c) View the presentation. Click Here Respond to the questions.

Video Presentation In what ways is our sense of belonging changeable? Why are some people marginalised in society?

Exploring the Concept in Texts Activity 5. d) Dr Marjorie Dixon View the monologue. Respond to the questions. Click here

Monologue In what ways is our sense of belonging changeable? What are the key signifiers of our sense of self? In what ways can complex and multi-layered perceptions of belonging be conveyed? Write a thesis statement about this text. What does it really say about belonging? (Not a truism or fact.)

Hopefully these ideas came up... Belonging is a changing state, rarely fixed or reliable. Outside forces can seriously impact on the ways individuals see themselves and their place in society at large. Social identity and roles often determine the extent to which individuals are included, accepted and valued.

Hopefully these ideas came up... Humanity is driven by a fundamental need to belong but conformity can be suffocating. Self-esteem and personal integrity are vital ingredients for a positive sense of belonging on both the individual and social level. The development of a sense of belonging to people, place and things often involves overcoming both internal and external conflict which ironically, can result in healing, growth and enlightenment.

Hopefully these ideas came up... Companionship and shared values and commitments can be pivotal in the transformation process. Belonging texts often work as bildungsroman texts, which chart a process of self-reflection and growing self- knowledge and the enlightenment that can flow from it.

Hopefully these ideas came up... Migrants or ‘outsiders’ often experience alienation and displacement in their struggle to adapt and adjust to new surroundings, language or tradition. Marginalised groups can struggle to gain social acceptance.

Hopefully these ideas came up... Conflict and the juxtaposition between inclusion/exclusion, harmony/disharmony and positive/negative elements are used to stress the fundamental importance of social relationships and feeling included.