Most family-oriented country/region/culture in the world? (renting, to live in)

[syracusa]

A brief discussion around this topic on a different thread inspired me to start a separate one.
I am aware that the notion of "family" in and of itself is affected by cross-cultural differences, but at the end of the day, family is one major universal and boils down to ties of affection and support within a given group and loyalty to the group in question.

I vote for some countries in the Mediterranean region (Italy, Spain).

PS to MODERATOR: Kindly don't move this thread to the Parenting forum.

[Tiger Beer]

I would say almost ANY Latin-oriented country.

Asia is also very family-oriented...the Philippines is one that jumps out quickly at me. But, throughout Asia.

I can't comment on Africa at all.

I didn't think Europe was all that family oriented...and definetely not North America.

[kevxu]

Originally Posted by syracusa

A brief discussion around this topic on a different thread inspired me to start a separate one.
I am aware that the notion of "family" in and of itself is affected by cross-cultural differences, but at the end of the day, family is one major universal and boils down to ties of affection and support within a given group and loyalty to the group in question.

I vote for some countries in the Mediterranean region (Italy, Spain).

I would think Muslim countries would be at the top of the list.

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I would say almost ANY Latin-oriented country.

Asia is also very family-oriented...the Philippines is one that jumps out quickly at me. But, throughout Asia.

I can't comment on Africa at all.

I didn't think Europe was all that family oriented...and definetely not North America.

I agree, for the most part. Africa is one area I am not sure about.
Northern Europe, not so much, but still better than North America. It is one of the things that drive me up the wall here in the US. Had I been able to live in an ethnic enclave like many Mexicans live here, it would be easier to practice my family-orientation values, as I know them from home.
But we are pretty much in an "assimilate or go insane" position.

Then...Central and Eastern Europe - quite a bit. Save maybe the family-related dramas that some Eastern Europeans and Russians, often of lower socio-economic standing, have tended to engage in post-communism: divorce, cheatings, drinking, light attitude towards the effect of parents' mess on children's well-being, etc.

But yes, I think Latin cultures win hands down.

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by kevxu

I would think Muslim countries would be at the top of the list.

Those too, I agree. Though many non-muslims would probably not see with good eyes the overly patriarchal, Roman-esque edge of the Muslim family, evoking "property" of the head of household; but I would still call it family-orientation.

[kevxu]

Originally Posted by syracusa

Those too, I agree. Though many non-muslims would probably not see with good eyes the overly patriarchal, Roman-esque edge of the Muslim family, evoking "property" of the head of household; but I would still call it family-orientation.

Yes, many of us would not be in sympathy with a conservative Muslim idea of family. However, family and religion are paramount.

[diablogun]

Originally Posted by syracusa

I agree, for the most part. Africa is one area I am not sure about.
Northern Europe, not so much, but still better than North America. It is one of the things that drive me up the wall here in the US. Had I been able to live in an ethnic enclave like many Mexicans live here, it would be easier to practice my family-orientation values, as I know them from home.
But we are pretty much in an "assimilate or go insane" position.

Then...Central and Eastern Europe - quite a bit. Save maybe the family-related dramas that some Eastern Europeans and Russians, often of lower socio-economic standing, have tended to engage in post-communism: divorce, cheatings, drinking, light attitude towards the effect of parents' mess on children's well-being, etc.

But yes, I think Latin cultures win hands down.

You have an interesting perspective. My experience with latin America (Mexico) is they have very extended families and spend a lot of time with them. I have also seen obscene amounts of attention being paid to male children, with the result being a lot of gangster kids without discipline. Whether that is family-oriented is a matter of where one's way of looking at the world falls at.

Where are you from?

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by diablogun

You have an interesting perspective. My experience with latin America (Mexico) is they have very extended families and spend a lot of time with them. I have also seen obscene amounts of attention being paid to male children, with the result being a lot of gangster kids without discipline. Whether that is family-oriented is a matter of where one's way of looking at the world falls at.

Where are you from?

I am not sure gangster kids result from attention being paid to male children. If anything, it is probably the wrong kind of attention and it has more to do with socio-economic bracket and the patriarchal character of such cultures, than with the overall emphasis Latin cultures place on the family.

In my experience, The North-American family model de-emphasizes the unity, loyalty and sense of togetherness that make up the mortar of the family, as a societal cell.
I just see a group of individuals roaming around, minding their own goals and pursuits, and who are kept together only by convention and structure, but not necessarily by a sense of common identity, complicity, belonging, strong ties, attachments and affection.
Definitely no "clan" mentality but rather an egotistic outlook: "family exists as a mere platform for my own personal goals and interests".

The moment children reach maturity, the already weak family ties go "puff in the wind" and everyone goes their merry way, with the occasional family reunions, phone-calls, visits done because it's the thing to do.

Clearly, this family model, emphasizing "independence", serves the modern economy (and the guys at the top) quite well, but when you look closer, few of those at the very top adopt such model for themselves.

In the end, I don't think it serves the average Joe very well.

[cyrusthylacinus]

Probably the Persian Gulf region. In Saudi Arabia for example everything has to go through the family, especially if you're a woman!

[diablogun]

Originally Posted by syracusa

I am not sure gangster kids result from attention being paid to male children. If anything, it is probably the wrong kind of attention and it has more to do with socio-economic bracket and the patriarchal character of such cultures, than with the overall emphasis Latin cultures place on the family.

In my experience, The North-American family model de-emphasizes the unity, loyalty and sense of togetherness that make up the mortar of the family, as a societal cell.
I just see a group of individuals roaming around, minding their own goals and pursuits, and who are kept together only by convention and structure, but not necessarily by a sense of common identity, complicity, belonging, strong ties, attachments and affection.
Definitely no "clan" mentality but rather an egotistic outlook: "family exists as a mere platform for my own personal goals and interests".

The moment children reach maturity, the already weak family ties go "puff in the wind" and everyone goes their merry way, with the occasional family reunions, phone-calls, visits done because it's the thing to do.

Clearly, this family model, emphasizing "independence", serves the modern economy (and the guys at the top) quite well, but when you look closer, few of those at the very top adopt such model for themselves.

In the end, I don't think it serves the average Joe very well.

Interesting outlook. It may well be that you have an opinion of social solidarity that does not match well with the American view of family/society. My family is very close, but you may not percieve it that way with your background. Similarly, you may also view the idea that a person should provide for their own family as being selfish, when it certainly is not.

I'm just guessing here. I have not seen the view of America as being not family-oriented too much before. It is usually the opposite opinion that I have garnered from folks.