Younger Members Of An Australian Family example essay topic

At first sight, Japanese families may look little different from that of a contemporary Australian family, in that, the majority of families live in cities, the house contains, generally, only members of the nuclear group, parents and child, who use it for sleeping, eating and bathing. However, closer inspections show the differences in values and social norms. To understand where these values come, the ideas of the traditional Japanese family must be briefly explained. In a traditional japanese family, the structure is usually known as an ie, or, continuing family.

The members of an ie must put the needs of the family before that of their own. Continuity was of paramount importance and adoption would often take place to make sure the family line continued. The role of "Head of the family" would often be passed down to eldest son on retirement of the father. Relations within a house were based strictly on a hierarchical structure, with men requiring deference from women, and elders likewise from younger members.

These values of the traditional family altered as industrialisation moved people from their extended families into cities. Nuclear families now predominate Japan, however, much of the ie ideology is still very must dominate in most families. Ancestors must still be remembered and rites held for them at certain times. This is one fundamental difference between Australian families and that of the Japanese.

Generally, Australian families dont hold memorials, nor rites for the deceased of previous generations. Amongst the living members of a japanese family, the younger generation has an idea that they owe respect to the older ones, this care is in return for the nurture they recieved while growing up. Similarly, younger members of an australian family share the same principle ideas of respect and care for their elders. In contempory Japan, there have been slight changes in relationships between members, this can contributed to the design of most urban houses. There is, similar to australian society, a large emphasis on privacy, and so most houses are sectioned off by brick or steel walls, as opposed to sliding doors of the tradition house. Another aspect of Japanese family culture, is that of the upbringing of children.

In japan the rearing of children in their early stages is taken very seriously. The Japanese believe that the soul of a 3 year old last es until 100, so parents believe that every effort should be made to make sure it is moulded properly. Also, the outcomes of the child is based on the parents, so a child that misbehaves will reflect negatively on their parents, and bring shame to the family. In Australia, this comparison between child and parent isn't as strong or regarded. However, parents in australia, also make every effort to make sure their child is brought up well mannered. Within the family structure, members communicate with eachother on different levels.

Children are always aware of the relative ages of the person they are talking to. Younger children often defer slightly when communicating to an older sibling, an example of this would be asking a sibling to play with them, instead of asking them "Come play with me", as most members of an Australian family would, a japanese child would ask them "to do them the favour" of playing with them. This same concept of communication can be seen during disputes, however, an older child is expected to give in to the younger one, on the grounds that "they will not yet be able to understand". This dispute-resolution, and deference creates harmony within the house and is the bases of Japanese social ideology.

This area of communication based on age could potentially create miscommunication if an Australian was to visit the home of a Japanese famliy, in that communication in contempory Australia is generally made on the basis of equality, and that tones of voice and manners in which we speak to others is not highly regarded. Individualism in Japan is not of much importance, but maintaining honour and pride of ones family is the main goal. The success of a Japanese person is a reflection of their family, and most people will work not for personal gain or desire, but to bring pride to their families name. This is idea of putting the family before the individual is not predominate in Australian society, and most successful australian's have done so for personal gain, this is due to the western ideas of Individualism and the "Self-made Man". As you may of heard, there are many similar features between the Australian and Japanese Family, however, we must not categorise them as being "typically western" as they still maintain many cultural values and norms that differ from that of our own..