HOW YOUR TRIBE
AFFECTS
YOUR VIBE
We are influenced by those with whom we most closely associate, in terms of our ideologies, political positions and prejudices. The Covid-19 lockdown exposed us for who we really are. LEM CHETTY
A
JAIME LOPES
s a sociological phenomenon, our ’vibe’ – our experiences and ensuing behaviour – starts to develop on the day we are born.
From that day onward, we are socialised by our upbringing
– our families and schooling, religious influences, and then further through our education and the media we consume. All of these play a critical part in shaping our outlook, and as we grow into adulthood we are exposed to a variety of ideas – in the workplace, through our colleagues, our friends, our leaders. Even the work environment can contribute to shaping how we see, understand and think of the world.
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SHIFTING TRIBES
Professor Devan Pillay from the Department of Sociology at Wits says during the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the primary influences of our socialisation has created polarised political and economic views of the lockdown situation. “This primary influence is class location,” says Pillay. “It affected people’s reactions and behaviour immediately. Especially in South Africa where inequality is vast. Different classes of people and how they view food was a telling factor.” Rotisserie chicken and pies polarised those in the middle class. For the working classes in townships, this may not have featured as a critical issue, given that the informal shop owner selling hot food