Changes in Social Classes in Sierra Leone Thousands of people died in the civil war in Sierra Leone. During this period, the structure of society changed completely. Villages were destroyed, and once upper-class citizens were pushed back to the lower ranks. In A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah's life has been changed by this civil war. His village was attacked by rebels and he was forced to flee. After Beah escaped, he was recruited by the government army to fight the rebel group RUF. Social classes and their roles were different in pre-war society, in the army during the war and in society during the war. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Society was very structured in the villages of Sierra Leone before the civil war. Many of these roles were traditional African roles such as religious leaders, while some were roles that occur in many places, such as teachers. Women cooked and took care of the house while men worked. Ishmael Beah's grandfather “was a well-known local Arab scholar in the village and beyond” (Beah 8). He helped people with both physical and spiritual illnesses. Due to his high social status, he was highly respected in the village. Children went to school to learn and had fun afterwards too. Ishmael Beah's brother, Junior, “went to secondary school, [and] made friends with some boys who taught him more about foreign music and dance” (6). After school, Ishmael and his friends learned to rap and dance to music. Sometimes they also went to the market to buy food for their families. The children had to meet expectations, but could play as most children would. Once the war reached the villages, men's roles changed completely while women's roles remained relatively the same. Ishamel Beah and his friends were wandering after their village was destroyed, when they were captured and placed in a makeshift refugee camp. The lieutenant in charge “needed strong men and boys to help fight… if [they] didn't want to fight… [they] wouldn't have stayed in the village” (106). These children were no longer seen as young. Instead of their normal role in society, all men and boys were forced to fight as soldiers for the government army. They were transformed into drugged war machines, intent on destroying all rebels. Men were not needed as teachers or religious leaders, but rather as weapons of mass destruction. Previously, women had to do housework. During the conflict “all women and girls were invited to report to the kitchen” (108). Women were stereotyped to clean the village and cook for the soldiers. However, that was the extent of their responsibilities. They didn't have to take care of anyone and the lieutenant took care of them. All civilians in society during the war were deprived of their natural rights. Ishamel Beah was taken to live with his uncle after his time in the army ended. The rebels violently controlled the city and the only food offered was rice with sugar or cassava with salt. Ishmael and his cousin “had heard of a secret market… where otherwise unavailable food products were sold to civilians” and decided to take the risk of purchasing food (204). During the civil war, even leaving home was dangerous due to daily violence and gunfire. Many citizens secretly went to the secret market to get food, though?