Topic 8 DQ 1: How does Western culture differ from other cultures whose extended
families are typically more involved? Share at least two advantages and disadvantages.
Western cultures differ in many ways from other cultures whose extended families are more
involved. Western cultures value individualism and often do not put an emphasis on extended
family or kinship networks. They put the needs of the individual first and value
autonomy/independence. Other cultures place an emphasis on one’s extended family. This is
especially true in collectivist cultures which values placing the needs of a family/society over
individual needs and interdependence. These cultures value respect, honor, and obedience.
Extended family can include in-laws, great-grandparents, grandparents, siblings, half-siblings,
stepsiblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other kin. Western cultures are okay
with the shift in the family structure which can include single parent families, adoptive/foster
families, divorced/remarried families, blended/stepfamilies, cohabitation families, and
gay/lesbian families.
Many Western cultures involve intergenerational families where there’s three generations
involved. Other cultures can include multigenerational families who live together sometimes
with their extended family in one home or in close proximity. Extended families can often help
provide care, food, and shelter along with emotional/financial/social support during times of
need. Sometimes, the extended family takes responsibility for childcare. Eastern cultures involve
matriarchal or patriarchal families where the mother or father is head of the household. They also
involve families where the father is the head of the household while the mother is responsibility
for child rearing duties/care, household duties, and cooking. In some cultures, such as Islamic
cultures, extended family can include polygynous families where there’s one husband/wife and
two or more wives/moms involved. Also, in some cultures, marriage between first cousins is
allowed along with arranged marriages. In some cultures, having a huge extended family or
kinship network is normal.
One advantage of having an extended family involved is that they can often provide emotional,
instrumental, or social support which one’s family can rely on in times of need along with
providing loyalty. Another advantage is that an extended family can help with childcare and
child-rearing, give economic or financial aid, and providing one’s family a place to stay or live in
times of economic hardships or financial insecurity.
One disadvantage of having an extended family is that the extended family providing economic
or financial support may mean that they could potentially become economically or financially
strapped as well due to economic/financial shifts such as a global recession. Another
disadvantage of having one’s family live with extended family is the lack of privacy involved so
that issues, conflict, and problems in one’s marriage may become known. (Georgas, 2003)
On a personal basis having been raised in a Western society, I do value my
independence/privacy, so I hate to be a burden or have to ask for economic/financial help when
I’m hitting a hard time. I would like to be able to provide support for my parents because I love
them so very much. Also due to economic/wage inequality I cannot afford to have my own place
due to rising financial costs. Therefore, I live with my mom, who’s divorced from my dad. Also,
