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
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, pornography, non-abstinence sex education, divorce, LGBTQ validity, same-sex marriage, gender ideology, secularism, and atheism. American conservative groups have made successful 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
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 by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a result of their anti-LGBT activism.
