1.Read the following case study and apply Bronfenbrenner’s ecosystemic model on the case study to explain factors that influence Inonge’s personal and social well-being. Your essay should employ the following concepts:

Question

1.Microsystem
2.Mesosystem
3.Exosystem
4.Macrosystem
5.Chronosystem

Inonge is 13 years old. She is the oldest of five children and has four younger brothers. They live with their mother , father and paternal grandfather in a small house in a semi-rural area near the town of Pemba in southern Zambia , where she attends a local school. The situation at home is not easy for inonge . Her mother and father both work on local farms, but they have to travel a long way and get back late. Her grandfather is at home most if the time, but he does very little to help around the house. He believes looking after the home and children is women’s work. Inonge as the eldest girl, is therefore expected to look after her the younger children when she gets back from school, supervise the boys homework , clean, prepare the evening meal and get her own homework done. She has very little time to be with others of he own age. Her father is very strict and like his own father, believes that he should be looked after by women in the house. He seldom talks to inonge except to give her instructions. When he is not pleased with something she has done, he tends to complain to his wife and not to inonge directly at the moment, he is also having a difficult time at work, where he is threatened with losing his job. This is creating a lot of tension in the household, so that inonge ‘s father is drinking more than usual and often loses his temper. Inonge is like her mother, who tends to be quite and unassertive. although inonge gets on well enough with her mother, she seldom gets much support from her when tension is high. by nature, inonge doesn’t find controlling the boys an easy task. The four boys also identify strongly with their father and grandfather, and she doesn’t get much support from them either. In any case, even in her mother’s eyes, the boys tend to be the favored ones. Apart from all this time , the other children do not generally see inonge as one of them . she has to supervise and control them, so they see her more as another adult than a sister. Because of this, she is bright her homework is often poorly done, or not done at all, and she often feels tired in class. The principal and the majority of teachers in this school see schools and home as separate- a view that is generally held in this community as well as well – so that little is done to build bridges between the two. Inonge’s own class teacher has never enquired about her home circumstances. He is an authoritarian teacher who rules the class very critically and strictly, thus a common pattern that has developed in this class for the teacher to be critical of the students, and the students to be critical of one other. Because Inonge is criticized for her poor scholastic performance and wants to make up for it, she takes on a role of the teacher’s helper wherever she can. Unfortunately, the teacher often exploits this. It has also not helped her in her peer relation. The class of 45 children is more or less evenly dived between boys and girls, who are seated in separate rows. The boys tend to dominate and are especially critical of the girls. Because Inonge is quite and unassertive, the other girls are also critical of her and tend to boss her around. Also, while most other children have friends from around their homes in the class, she has dad little time to make such friends, so she tends to be quite isolated in the classroom.

Answer 1

Bronfenbrenner’s ecosystemic model can be applied to understand factors that influence Inonge’s personal and social well-being in the following ways:

1. Microsystem: Inonge’s immediate environment, such as her family and school, is her microsystem. Within this system, her interactions with her family members, especially her father, mother, and siblings, impact her well-being. The expectations placed on her as the oldest girl to take care of the household responsibilities and her siblings leave her with little time for herself. The lack of support from her family, particularly her father, creates stress and tension, affecting her emotional well-being.

2. Mesosystem: The mesosystem refers to the interconnections between different microsystems in an individual’s life. In Inonge’s case, the lack of communication and support between her family and her school create difficulties for her. The disconnect between her home responsibilities and school performance adds additional stress to her life. The authoritarian teaching style in the school also contributes to her feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

3. Exosystem: The exosystem includes external factors that indirectly impact an individual’s life. In Inonge’s case, her father’s job insecurity and increased drinking behavior due to work stress contribute to the tense atmosphere at home. This, in turn, affects Inonge’s well-being by creating an unstable and stressful living environment.

4. Macrosystem: The macrosystem consists of cultural norms, societal values, and broader social structures that influence an individual’s life. In Inonge’s community, traditional gender roles and expectations play a significant role in shaping her experience. The belief that household responsibilities are primarily a woman’s duty reinforces the unequal distribution of labor within her family, putting additional pressure on Inonge.

5. Chronosystem: The chronosystem considers how changes over time affect an individual’s life. In Inonge’s case, her father’s increased alcohol consumption and job insecurity have introduced new stressors into her life, impacting her well-being. The lack of support from her family members and the ongoing tension in the household have likely intensified over time, leading to emotional strain for Inonge.

Overall, Bronfenbrenner’s ecosystemic model helps to highlight the complex web of factors that influence Inonge’s personal and social well-being. By examining her interactions within her family, school, and broader community, it becomes evident that Inonge’s struggles are shaped by a combination of internal and external pressures. Identifying these influences is crucial in developing interventions and support systems to help improve Inonge’s overall well-being.