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Family values, sometimes referred to asfamilial values, aretraditional orcultural values that pertain to the family's structure, function, roles, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals. Additionally, the concept offamily values may be understood as a reflection of the degree to which familial relationships are valued within an individual's life.
In the social sciences andAmerican political discourse, the conventional term "traditional family" describes thenuclear family: a child-rearing environment composed of aleading father, ahomemaking mother, and their nominally biological children. A family deviating from this model is considered anon-traditional family.
Several online dictionaries define "family values" as the following:
Familialism orfamilism is the ideology that puts priority on family and family values.[4] Familialism advocates for a welfare system where families, rather than the government, take responsibility for the care of their members.[4]
In the United States and the United Kingdom, the banner offamily values has been used byrightward political coalitions to express opposition toprofanity,abortion,birth control,pornography,comprehensive sex education,divorce,same-sex marriage,feminism,gender diversity,secularism,atheism, andantitheism. American conservative and nationalist groups have made successful inroads promoting these policies in Africa since the early 1990s, describing them as African family values.[5]
The phrasefamily values originated with the 1992 Republican National Convention, for their "Family Values Night", featuringBarbara Bush as the keynote speaker. In the short term the phrase was widely panned, and at the time the staying power of the idea was underestimated.[6]
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Interpretations ofIslamic learnings andArab culture are common for the majority ofSaudis. Islam is a driving cultural force that dictates a submission to the will ofAllah.[7] The academic literature suggests that the family is regarded as the main foundation of Muslim society and culture; the family structure and nature of the relationship between family members are influenced by the Islamic religion.[8] Marriage in Saudi culture means the union of two families, not just two individuals.[9] In Muslim society, marriage involves a social contract that occurs with the consent of parents or guardians. Furthermore, marriage is considered the only legitimate outlet forsexual desires, andsex outside marriage (zina) is a crime that is punished under Islamic law.[10]
The Saudi family includes extended families, as theextended family provides the individual with a sense ofidentity. The father is often thebreadwinner and protector of the family, whereas the mother is often thehomemaker and the primary caretaker of the children.[11] Parents are regarded with high respect, and children are strongly encouraged to respect and obey their parents.[12] Often, families provide care for elders. Until recently, because families and friends are expected to provideelderly care,nursing homes were considered culturally unacceptable.[13]
In sociological terms, nontraditional families make up the majority of American households.[14] As of 2014, only 46% of children in the U.S. live in a traditional family, down from 61% in 1980.[15] This number includes only families with parents who are in their first marriage, whereas the percentage of children simply living with two married parents is 65% as of 2016.[16]
[17] Japanese gender roles have changed due to history and expectations. Due to gender roles' nuance, young Japanese women's experiences reveal societal attitudes, expectations, and gender inequality (Belarmino & Roberts, 2019).
History shapes Japanese expectations. Housework was done by women, while men worked. Although changed, Confucian and patriarchal expectations still affect gender dynamics (Belarmino & Roberts, 2019).[17]
To balance Confucian values with a modernizing economy, the "good wife and wise mother" archetype replaced them in Japanese gender roles. Before post-World War II Western influence, women were mostly homemakers and childrearing with little political or higher education (Belarmino & Roberts, 2019).[17]
A qualitative study of college-aged Japanese women reveals their values and customs. Interviewees thought Japanese women married, raised children, and supported men. Women identified with societal femininity and beauty standards through pressure. Japanese families and society expect women to marry and have children. Women are expected to marry, have children, and take care of their homes. While some valued education and work, society valued marriage and family more. Interpreting Japanese gender norms requires historical and contemporary contexts. Japanese women face gender inequality despite progress, requiring social discourse and reforms (Belarmino & Roberts, 2019).[17]
These groups are associated with "family values". Many of them are also listed as hate groups by theSouthern Poverty Law Center as a result of theiranti-LGBT activism.
