Intergroup contact is where people from different lifestyles live, work, and study together. Furthermore, since they go through common life experiences, they find it fascinating to find a common ground with each other and learn more about one another. Lastly, equal status contact is contact on an equal basis. Both groups must engage equally in the relationship. Members of the group should have similar backgrounds, qualities, and characteristics.
Instead, these individuals may attain the same sense of belonging outside of relationships, through their connections to other things such as place and culture, or within themselves. Steven Herrick’s ‘The Simple Gift’ and Melina Marchetta’s ‘Looking For Alibrandi’ are two texts in which explores the concept of belonging and how different individuals have different meanings of a sense of belonging. This shows that individuals can find a sense of belonging in a great range of place, not limited to relationships. In The Simple Gift, Steven Herrick both supports and challenges traditional assumptions about belonging. Through the form of a verse novel he supports the idea that all humans seek a sense of belonging, and that without it our lives have little meaning.
Socially determining how an individual might interact with others in and around their current environment. “There are an immense number and variety of racial and ethnic groups in our society." (Zastraw & Kirst-Ashman, 2010, ch.5) Cultural competence describes a set of skills, values, and principles that represent the interactions between individuals. Acknowledging the variety of ethnic and cultural groups one might come in contact with. The “cultural competency” can be linked to the term diversity because it encourages the awareness of the differences in "appearance, behavior and culture" as one unit.
Socially determining how an individual might interact with others in and around their current environment. “There are an immense number and variety of racial and ethnic groups in our society." (Zastraw & Kirst-Ashman, 2010, ch.5) Cultural competence describes a set of skills, values, and principles that represent the interactions between individuals. Acknowledging the variety of ethnic and cultural groups one might come in contact with. The “cultural competency” can be linked to the term diversity because it encourages the awareness of the differences in "appearance, behavior and culture" as one unit.
These comparative experiences of belonging prevail through Raimond Gaita’s memoir Romulus My Father, and Ed Sheeran’s song lyrics The A Team. An individual who fulfills the expectations of the society in which they reside are granted membership to this unity as a result, which therefore enriches their sense of belonging. Gaita explores this notion of acceptance through Romulus and his experiences in gaining the respect of his new community. Being an immigrant, Romulus gains recognition by proving his “worth” through hard work. Gaita uses personification in “his materials…seemed to be in friendship with him” to reinforce the bond that exists between Romulus and his work, therefore highlighting the significance of such connection on the evolvement of his “character”.
Stephen Herrick’s The Simple Gift and Theophile Gautier’s ballet; Giselle performed by The Mariinsky Ballet Company are two texts in which an exploration of belonging and its different meanings for individuals ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of the complexity and concept of belonging and thus that individuals can belong in a great range of places, not limited to relationships. Relationships by nature embody ideas of a connection on a psychological level between two people which can fulfill other fundamental human needs such as the need for social interaction, and thus can result in the individuals involved attaining a true sense of belonging. When individuals find meaning and purpose in connections with other people, as they often do in relationships, the need to belong is fulfilled in the greatest sense as the individual’s life is enriched by the positive outcomes for their self esteem, security and stability. Whilst there may be an almost inextricable link between belonging and relationships, not all relationships ultimately lead to individuals finding a genuine sense of belonging, which
External Forces are important to a sense of belonging. Perceptions and ideas of belonging, vary. Perceptions are shaped within our personal, cultural and social context. A sense of belonging can be shaped from some external forces such as connections made with people, places, groups or communities. Examples of these connections that impact on our sense of belonging are show through the texts, “Romulus My Father” and “The Lame Shall Enter First”.
65% of respondents saw friendships as being an essential part of their sense of belonging according to the SIRC. The idea of belonging is important to our understanding of how people give meaning to their lives. Our sense of identity is founded on social interactions that show our belonging to particular communities through shared beliefs, values, or practices. Are we finding new ways of defining who we are? Who we are is defined by the social networks and communities to which we belong.
Belonging and being accepted into a group can have both negative and positive effects on an individual’s sense of personal identity. As humans we naturally want to belong and feel accepted. We are usually brought up in a specific way and mingle with people that are similar to us and without knowing we form an invisible bond with these people. Whether it may be religious views, cultural similarities or similar up bringing all these factors help us to become the person we are. Lars Fr.
Belonging Belonging can be described in many different ways, and can take on many different meanings for different people in different circumstances. Belonging is an important part of our lives. Every human being has something that creates a sense of belonging in their lives. Belonging can involve a relationship, place, family, country, love, cultural, and religion and for some people it is a place called home. Some of this belonging is show in The Simple Gift Noble by Steven Herrick.