Dream, Aspirations

In sociology we discussed a lot of the basic concepts of sociological theory, the ideas of how society provides for the basic needs of individuals (functional requisites), how societies govern themselves through norms and values (normative consensus), how societies set goals and definitions for “success,” and how societies define and deal with deviance. We also discussed that societies are not universal or static, they change over time and from one place to another. As such, it tends to follow that Botswana would have different sets of societal parameters than my own culture. As an outsider it is much easier to observe these parameters than in one’s own culture although that is not out of the question either.
I was asked recently, “what motivates Motswana? What are their dreams? What do they hope to accomplish?” As I see it there are two different answers to this question. The first is what does society tell these people they should do to be successful and secondly, how does the individual see these goals.
I should state now, as I am wont to do, that I haven’t talked to every Batswana, I don’t even have a fair or diverse sample. Everyone I have talked to is college educated and rather familiar with my culture so my view is skewed to their perceptions but I don’t think that makes my observations less valuable or interesting.
Botswana has had an interesting developmental history that has seen it mold its own destiny as a long independent, and at least semi-independent economic, state but it has also had a long colonial history and a sort of father-son relationship with the West. As such Botswana has developed what seems to me to be a dual culture that is actually only one. On the one hand Botswana has traditions and culture that goes back generations and is still very much alive and well today, but on the other hand there is an obvious obsession with all that I western, western movies, music, government, art, and many other things are very popular here. The two coexist and I don’t think its fair to say, in this case that one is “killing” the other. All of this means that the goals and desires of this society are shaped by often conflicting forces.
Now it would be hard and unfair of me to suggest that I really have a good grasp on all of what makes a person “successful” but I do have some ideas. It is easiest for me to compare this society to my own. For example, both Botswana and America suggest that marriage and child rearing are keys to success. However, in the U.S. there is the artificial notion of the 2.3 children (or whatever that is) and here, in Botswana, it seems to me that the “ideal” family size is much bigger. Everyone wants to get married and have a family, a big family. On this topic, I also think that less emphasis is put on the “falling in love” part. It could be that I mainly talk to young men who don’t have love on the mind, but the whole culture of the “small-house” (see earlier post) makes me tend to think that the chivalrous constructs of “love” and “monogamy” so cherished in my culture are less important here.
In terms of professional goals or aspirations there is an interesting strain between the traditional and modern. One of my professors joked that, “the real problem with this country has is that even when a man gets his masters degree and you ask him, ‘what do you want to do now?’ he responds, ‘I’m going to become a farmer!’” The irony of this is one of my roommates (Puso) has just finished his masters degree in chemistry and his ultimate goal is to become a farmer. Another example is my friend Onky’s dad. Onky was telling that his father was the second oldest of many children and when he was still a student he was encouraged to drop out of school and help his family with their cattle to earn money so his elder brother could go to school in the U.S. He did and now he has no highschool education and his mother says “you’re nothing, you didn’t even go to school.” But Onky’s father is in no position to remind his mother that it was at her request that he ceased his education. The fact of the matter is people want to go to school, no doubt about that and it would seem anybody whose family is patient enough has the means to attend the University of Botswana with the schooling paid for and a stipend provided. Beyond that most people realize that the best potential for jobs is in the government and to own cattle on the side. It seems that this is such a common outlet because it what their fathers did. There seems to be little motivation to break the mold. When I ask people why they don’t go into business for themselves it strikes me that they respond as if they had never even considered the possibility as realistic.
As a nation it seems Botswana is driven to westernize and become increasingly similar to those countries. In as much the economy is aggressively encouraged to grow and development is constantly on the lips of all people in power. The nation has been pretty successful in this push over the past five or so decades. The diamond wealth helps.
In general, in my experience, people aspire to be self sufficient and comfortable much as their parents before them. I don’t see much drive to really improve there standing or “break the mold.”

That's all for now
Love,
Tommy