Family values

For other uses, see Family values (disambiguation).

Family values, sometimes referred to as familial values, are traditional or cultural values that pertain to the family's structure, function, roles, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals. Additionally, the concept of family 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 and American political discourse, the conventional term "traditional family" describes the nuclear family: a child-rearing environment composed of a leading father, a homemaking mother, and their nominally biological children. A family deviating from this model is considered a non-traditional family.

Definition

Several online dictionaries define "family values" as the following:

• "the moral and ethical principles traditionally upheld and passed on within a family, as fidelity, honesty, truth, and faith." ^[1]
• "values especially of a traditional or conservative kind which are held to promote the sound functioning of the family and to strengthen the fabric of society." ^[2]
• "values held to be traditionally taught or reinforced within a family, such as those of high moral standards and discipline." ^[3]

In politics

Main article: Familialism

Familialism or familism 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 of family values has been used by rightward political coalitions to express opposition to profanity, abortion, birth control, pornography, comprehensive sex education, divorce, same-sex marriage, feminism, gender diversity, secularism, atheism, and antitheism. 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 phrase family values originated with the 1992 Republican National Convention, for their "Family Values Night", featuring Barbara 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]

Family values by region

Arab culture

Interpretations of Islamic learnings and Arab culture are common for the majority of Saudis. Islam is a driving cultural force that dictates a submission to the will of Allah. ^[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 for sexual desires, and sex outside marriage (zina) is a crime that is punished under Islamic law. ^[10]

The Saudi family includes extended families, as the extended family provides the individual with a sense of identity. The father is often the breadwinner and protector of the family, whereas the mother is often the homemaker 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 provide elderly care, nursing homes were considered culturally unacceptable. ^[13]

American culture

Further information: Family in the United States

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]

Japanese culture

This section is an excerpt from Japanese values § Japanese gender role expectations and attitudes.[ edit ]

^[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]

Organizations

These groups are associated with "family values". Many of them are also listed as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a result of their anti-LGBT activism.

• American Family Association ^[18]
• Family Research Council ^[19]
• Family Research Institute ^[20]
• Focus on the Family ^[21]
• Traditional Values Coalition ^[22]
• World Congress of Families ^[23]

References

1. "family values". Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
2. "family values". Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, Inc. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
3. "family values". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
4. Emiko Ochiai, Leo Aoi Hosoya (2014). Transformation of the Intimate and the Public in Asian Modernity. The Intimate and the Public in Asian and Global Perspectives. BRILL. pp. 20–1. ISBN   9789004264359.
5. McEwen, Haley (May 25, 2017). "Nuclear power: The family in decolonial perspective and 'pro-family' politics in Africa". Development Southern Africa. 34 (6): 738–751. doi:10.1080/0376835X.2017.1318700. S2CID   148956131.
6. Tribune, Chicago (1992-10-06). "FAMILY VALUES RHETORIC BACKFIRES ON GOP". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
7. Peachy, William S. (1999). A brief look upon Islam. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Darussalam Publishers and Distributors. OCLC   48103511.
8. Mutair, A; Plummer, V; O'Brien, A; Clerehan, R (2014). "Providing culturally congruent care for Saudi patients and their families". Contemporary Nurse. 46 (2): 254–258. doi:10.5172/conu.2014.46.2.254. PMID   24787260. S2CID   20386177.
9. Khalaf, I; Callister, L (1997). "Cultural meanings of childbirth: Muslim women living in Jordan". Journal of Holistic Nursing. 4 (15): 373–388. doi:10.1177/089801019701500405. PMID   9397746. S2CID   40338008.
10. Lemu, A; Heeren, F (1992). Women in Islam. Leicester, England: The Islamic Foundation.
11. Luna, J (1989). "Transcultural nursing care of Arab Muslims". Journal of Transcultural Nursing. 1 (1): 22–26. doi:10.1177/104365968900100105. PMID   2803661. S2CID   25951878.
12. Ghazwi, F.; Nock, L. (1989). "Religion as mediating force in the effects of modernization on parent–child relations in Jordan". Middle Eastern Studies. 25 (3): 363–369. doi:10.1080/00263208908700786.
13. Luna, J (1989). "Transcultural nursing care of Arab Muslims". Journal of Transcultural Nursing. 1 (1): 22–26. doi:10.1177/104365968900100105. PMID   2803661. S2CID   25951878.
14. Panasenko, N (2013). "Czech and Slovak Family Patterns and Family Values in Historical, Social and Cultural Context". Journal of Comparative Family Studies. 44 (1): 79–98. doi:10.3138/jcfs.44.1.79.
15. "Fewer than half of US kids live in 'traditional' family". December 22, 2014. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
16. "The Majority of Children Live With Two Parents, Census Bureau Reports". The United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
17. Belarmino, Melanie; Roberts, Melinda R. (2019-09-06). "Japanese Gender Role Expectations and Attitudes: A Qualitative Analysis of Gender Inequality". Journal of International Women's Studies. 20 (7): 272–288. ISSN   1539-8706.
18. "American Family Association". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
19. "Family Research Council". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
20. "Active U.S. Hate Groups in 2006: Colorado". Southern Poverty Law Center. 2007. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
21. "Focus on the Family". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
22. "The rise and fall of the Traditional Values Coalition". Southern Poverty Law Center. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
23. "World Congress of Families". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2024-03-20.

Further reading

• Bennett, William J. (ed.) (1997). The Book of Virtues for Young People: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories (illustrated, reprint). Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-0-689-81613-0.
• Bork, Robert H. (2010). Slouching towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline (revised edition). HarperCollins. ISBN   978-0-06-203091-7.
• Coontz, Stephanie (1992). The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap (illustrated, reprinted ed.). Basic Books. ISBN   978-0-465-09097-6.
• Coontz, Stephanie (2008). The Way We Really Are: Coming to Terms with America's Changing Families . Basic Books. ISBN   978-0-7867-2556-4.
• Coontz, Stephanie (ed.) (2013). American Families: A Multicultural Reader (2nd edition, revised). Routledge. ISBN   978-1-135-77691-6.
• Coontz, Stephanie (2006). Marriage, A History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage . Penguin. ISBN   978-1-101-11825-2.
• Gairdner, William Douglas (2007). The War Against the Family: A Parent Speaks Out on the Political, Economic, and Social Policies That Threaten Us All . BPS Books. ISBN   978-0-9784402-1-3.
• Good, Deirdre (2006). Jesus' Family Values . Church Publishing Inc. ISBN   978-1-59627-163-0.
• Shapiro, Ben (2005). Porn Generation: How Social Liberalism is Corrupting Our Future . Regnery. ISBN   978-1-59698-686-2.
• Stacey, Judith (1996). In the Name of the Family: Rethinking Family Values in the Postmodern Age (reprint). Beacon Press. ISBN   978-0-8070-0433-3.