Families in Lebanon - Case Study Example

Families in Lebanon The study in discussion will focus on the organization of the nuclear family in Lebanon and by extension, the general Arab family life. The case study used in this context has been inspired by video excerpts from a channel on YouTube known as FouseyTube. The channel illustrates the basic lifestyle of a nuclear family in Lebanon in a series referred to as Middle Eastern Parents (Young). There are numerous characteristics of families demonstrated in the videos and therefore the study in the discussion will feature most of its arguments from there. The channel features comical video clips and most probably targets drama and comedy enthusiasts. There are three characters involved in this series and involves a mother, father and their son. The son is the protagonist, and cuts the figure of an audacious yet respectful child. He is also technologically savvy and sounds educated. The mother is a housewife and can be described as strict and keen to neatness. She is relatively open-minded as regarding religion rules, and this is seen when she intervenes for his son during an argument between her husband and son concerning the issue of a girlfriend. The father, on the other hand, is portrayed as a strict and conservative parent. He is the head and provider of the family. In the discussion, the major areas of interest will be on the characteristics and the structure of the family (Arab) in Lebanon as depicted in the videos outlined earlier. The study will also focus on the responsibilities of each member of the family as necessitated by the society and in part, religion. A little more focus on the protagonist (the son) will also give a clearer picture of the youthful stage of the children and how their parents influence their way of life. The style of communication in Lebanese families is also worth a mention and thus the study will also touch on the topic. The discussion, however, starts with an overview of Lebanon in regard to its demographic, cultural and social background. 2.0 Lebanon 2.1 Background information There has not been ample survey to determine the actual population size of Lebanon in the recent years; the most recent census was held in 1932 (Rolland 65). However, sample studies conducted by The National Survey of Household Living Conditions in 2004-2005, estimated the population at 4.2 million people. The country’s ethnic make-up consists of about 95 percent Arabs (Lebanese) and with the rest of the population largely made up of the Armenians (Mahdi 117). In Lebanon, the family is seen as the pillar of the society and is thus a highly respected institution. Lebanese society is presented as an interaction between families and kin groups. The family is also considered to be a sign of social status and identity in the society. A Lebanese family incorporates a host of values such as children, marriage, respect for parents and seniors among others (Mahdi 126). 2.2 Family structure The family structure in Lebanon can be described as patriarchal and is pyramidally hierarchal about age and gender (Joseph 188). It comprises of a man who couples up as the father/husband and the head of the family, a woman and a child or children. The child is subordinate to both the mother and father while the woman is inferior to the man as well. The man provides for the family and in most cases, he is the family’s sole breadwinner. In ‘Middle Eastern Parents’, the family structure portrayed as nuclear. However, according to McGoldrick, Joseph and Nydia, religions are now encouraging women to seek education and employment. This has been due to the changing economic times where the women are also expected to contribute financially for maintenance of a stronger family unit (476). Typically, both women and men can now contribute to the upkeep and support of the family, and this includes raising the children. However, the man in most cases supports the family financially while the woman is responsible for the housework. All major household’s decisions are usually made by a man as he is an authority figure (Mahdi 126). Today, the family unit is seen as demonstrating signs of strain largely due to elements such as urbanization, past wars and conflicts, industrialization and Westernization. Despite all these factors, the family unit is still considered the main system of support in Lebanon. Westernization has imposed more importance to the nuclear family, but that does not mean extended families have lost meaning. In fact, most Lebanese families tend to cohabit in the same area as their relatives. It is normal to find families that live in the same building as their relatives (Barakat 106). According to Barakat (106), communication in Lebanese families is also hierarchal where downward communication involves orders, warnings, threats and instructions. In this communication style, parents use punishment and anger while children respond by self-censorship, deception, crying or covering up. A good example is seen when the son in ‘Middle Eastern Families’ is asked about his involvement with a said girlfriend. He vehemently denies about it due to his parents lack of understanding. The technological advancements have also seen impaired and reduced interactions between members of the family. The decline is seen where the son (the main protagonist) spends too much time on his computer, failing to pay attention to his mother’s calls and instructions. The mother, while glued on the television, also fails to listen to her son when he seeks permission to leave the house. 2.3 Marriage There are four types of marriages practised in Lebanon today: Marriage of pressure, arranged marriages, marriage by abduction and marriage by free choice. For a long time, marriage was a family affair but that is slowly being replaced by that of free choice which is slowly phasing out the other three forms that are considered archaic (Thomas 47). For example, when the son in ‘Middle Eastern Families’ makes a plea about his choice of partner to his parents, his father declines and instead provides the son with a list of names from where the son should choose. Marriage is considered highly religious and sacred in Lebanon. It is seen as fundamental to the progression and stability of the family and the society at large. It is still a common practice to observe practices such as endogamy in Lebanon where marriage within people of the same descent (especially cousins) get married. This has largely been attributed to factors such as a sustained refusal to split land that is considered an inheritance. It is also taken as an action to safeguard various threatened religious identities such as seen with the Christians of the Orient (Thomas 45). 2.4 Youth life Lebanese youth (most who are students) rely heavily on their parents for direction and financial support (Mahdi 127). For example, when the son asks for a laptop and a pair of shoes, his father conforms to his wishes. The mother is, however, concerned about the high cost of the shoes despite its seemingly poor quality. Children are also bound by parental rules and involvement in their life (Mahdi 128). For instance, the son also seeks permission so that he can go out for a movie. Parents have little acquaintance to the internet and its usage and thus do not manage to monitor what their children are doing online. The children are not used to having their internet usage censored or experience any restrictions to accessing certain websites. In one part of the video, the mother finds his son watching a video song and pronounces it as immoral. She also wonders why her son overspends his time on the ‘Facebook’ and terms it as lazy. 2.5 Personal interactions In Lebanon, the parents have some control over whom their children interact. They can shun interactions between their children and people who they (parents) consider lacking class or standards. They also recommend friends and companions to their children (Mahdi 128). In one instance in ‘Middle Eastern Parents’, for example, the mother finds her son’s friends in his room and harshly condemns them for visiting her son. She goes ahead to vilify them, calling them pigs- an animal abhorred in the Islam religion. She is also wary of his son’s interaction with a girl. 2.6 Personal hygiene It is common practice for Lebanese to observe strict personal hygiene routines such as regular washing of clothes and bathing. It is, however, the responsibility of the mother to make follow-ups on the children, ensuring that they observe these habits. In the clip, the mother gets angry at his son’s disorganized room and his failure to wash his clothes for an extended time. The youth are expected to take a quick shower on a daily basis. In rural areas, however, facilities such as running water at home may not be available and thus regular washing and bathing is not possible (Mahdi 124). 3.0 Conclusion Lebanon is a small country in the Middle East that has religious demarcation of 70 percent Muslim and 30 percent Christianity 40% (Mahdi 117). Religions play a vital role in the family and dictates the overall societal stability. The role of the family unit in the society growth highly valued. Every member of the family has a definite role, and this extends to the society and country at large, giving a societal outlook of the widely accepted roles of men, women and children. However, much has changed due to the introduction of Western culture and the technological advancements that have seen widespread use of the internet in the country. The family unit is, therefore, slowly losing the harmony that was once seen and associated with it before (Tarabey 37). Works cited Barakat, Halim I. The Arab World: Society, Culture, and State. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993. Internet resource. Joseph, Suad. Intimate Selving in Arab Families: Gender, Self, and Identity. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1999. Print. Mahdī, ʻAlī A. Teen Life in the Middle East, Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2003. Print. McGoldrick, Monica, Joseph, Giordano, and Nydia, Garcia-Preto. Ethnicity & Family Therapy. New York: Guilford Press, 2005. Print Rolland, John C. Lebanon: Current Issues and Background. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc, 2003. Print. Tarabey, Lubna. Family Law in Lebanon: Marriage and Divorce Among the Druze, New York, NY: I.B. Tauris, 2013. Print. Thomas, Marie-Claude, Women in Lebanon: Living with Christianity, Islam, and Multiculturalism, New York N.Y: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. Print. Young, Simba. “Middle Eastern Parents.” Online video clip. YouTube. FouseyTube, 11 Nov. 2014, Web Top of Form Read More