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 U.S. 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 nontraditional 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."
• "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."
• "values held to be traditionally taught or reinforced within a family, such as those of high moral standards and discipline."

In politics

Main article: Familialism

Familialism or familism is the ideology that puts priority on family and family values. Familialism advocates for a welfare system where families, rather than the government, take responsibility for the care of their members.

In the United States, the banner of "family values" has been used by social conservatives to express opposition to abortion, birth control, environmentalism, feminism, pornography, comprehensive sex education, divorce, LGBTQ, same-sex marriage, civil unions, so-called "gender ideology", secularism, and atheism. American conservative groups have made inroads promoting these policies in Africa since the early 2000s, describing them as African family values.

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.

Family values by region

Further information: Japanese values

Arabic 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. 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. Marriage in Saudi culture means the union of two families, not just two individuals. 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.

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. Parents are regarded with high respect, and children are strongly encouraged to respect and obey their parents. Often, families provide care for elders. Until recently, because families and friends are expected to provide elderly care, nursing homes were considered culturally unacceptable.

United States culture

In sociological terms, nontraditional families make up the majority of American households. As of 2014, only 46% of children in the U.S. live in a traditional family, down from 61% in 1980. 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.

Organizations

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

• American Family Association
• Family Research Council
• Family Research Institute
• Focus on the Family
• Traditional Values Coalition
• World Congress of Families

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.