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Second, the emphasis on individual freedom. Americans view the family as a group whose primary purpose is to advance the happiness of individual members. The result is that the needs of each individual take priority in the life of the family. In contrast to that of many other cultures,the primary responsibility of the American family member is not to advance the family as a group, either socially or economically,nor is it to bring honor to the family name. This is partly because the United States is not an aristocratic society. Family name and honor are less important than in aristocratic societies,since equality of opportunity regardless of birth is considered a basic American value. Moreover, there is less emphasis on the family as an economic unit because the American family is rarely self-supporting. Relatively few families maintain self-supporting family farms or businesses for more than one generation. A farmer's son, for example, is very likely to go on to a college,leaving the family farm, and taking an entirely different job in a different location. The American desire for freedom from outside control clearly extends to the family. Americans do not like to have controls placed on them by other family members.They want to make independent decisions and not be told what to do by grandparents or uncles or aunts. For example, both American men and women expect to decide what job is best for them as individuals. Indeed, young Americans are encouraged by their families to make such independent career decisions. What would be best for the family is not considered to be as important as what would be best for the individual. |
