Family Structure and Support Issues in the US and the Egypt - Essay Example

Family Structure and Support Issues in the US and the Egypt Question One The replenishing role entrusted to the family institution has continued to be a significant point of connect between Egyptian and American families. The existence of the young people in these two societies proves the point. However, research shows that, in Egypt, the young form the larger percentage of the population, on the other hand, in America the old form the larger part. Women in Egyptian families are still under patriarchal authorities while in the USA gender equality prevails even to the family level (Posner 17). In this regard, the role of women in Egypt is mainly family chores conjoined with serving the husband. In contrast, in the American families women are more like managers. Men in both societies agree on the protection provision role but deviate significantly in terms of provision, reproduction and disciplinary of children (Dubois 13). In Egypt, the disciplinary of children is still the role of men while in the USA children get professionally counseled and legally protected against such actions. Children in the USA get majorly involved with entertainment while, in the Egyptian families, children can be termed as production factors for the man. Question two Much has been on the impact of technology on the social structures, the family inclusive, in Egypt, however, the studies done based on the economic development while, in America, the studies based on moral development. The family structure could be made of the mother, the father, and the children until the recent past in the USA. In both societies, this structure exists, although in different dimensions. In the USA, studies show that women led families have been increasing followed at a close range by monogamous families (Borman 26). In Egypt, the family structure remains rigid, drawing much of its strength from Islam. Marriage in the past has failed to own a universally agreed definition. As a result, these two societies have different settings for marriage. In Egypt, marriage has remained to be a social contract between two people from the opposite sex without underestimating the place of polygamy (Amos & Howard 2). On the other hand, marriage in the USA can be defined as the union between two parties of the same or either sex. Divorce in Egypt discredits one of their social standing while in the USA one get viewed like a hero (Abrams 61). Nevertheless, divorce exists in both societies. Question 3 American culture got created out of a mixture of people, majority being Christians, this get evidenced by the national holidays of the USA and also in the national anthem. Egypt, on the other hand, is formed by a majority of Muslims. Religion governs a people's political, economic, legal and personal lives (Wertenbruch 43). The American culture is thus more of the German culture than it is of the Egyptian culture since Germany got founded on a Christian religion. There are a number of similarities between, German and American cultures. To begin with music, folklore, dressing and literature are all affiliated to each other. Secondly, the two also share values and norms (Lepenies 39). The American value system got founded on investment more than any other country it can be characterized by, efficiency, neatness and cleanliness, volunteer- ship and honesty. Egypt on her side upholds a value system characterized with integrity, transparency, unity, and hard work. Question 4 A secular society has no state religion. A secular society is heterogeneous and highly individualistic. Statistics show that America has all religions inclusive of atheists. A sacred society on the contrary is one that has a state religion and is primarily homogeneous, perfect examples of sacred societies are Vatican and Madina (Allen 77). During the time of ousting Hussein Mubarak, all people in Egypt participated but due to the extent of religion women live with deprived freedom. For instance, women cannot make decisions for themselves even unto a lifetime spouse in marriage. To expound on the extent of religion in Egypt is the application of statistics, more than ninety percent of her populace is Muslims (Moscovitch 47). On the difference of religious values of Egypt and America, it is expedient to state that they can not bound by the rules of one religion. When president Obama came into office, he did say that the USA was a Christian but is no longer a Christian country. Question 5 Personality development theorists argue that when society get into a person, therefore, should develop a zeal to give back to the society a better good than it at first gave (Early 59). Men, therefore, as social actors have roles to play in society. Women, however, take up the roles of men and vice-versa and role conflict emanates (Bennett 91). In Egypt, men face a number of role conflicts, take-over of protection of the family against human and inhuman threats, take-over of the bread winning role and thirdly the reproduction role. Information is power, education of the girl child in Egypt has led to knowledge on social security institutions and in case of disease attack and members of the family can be treated without paying a single cent. Women also participated in the overthrow of Hussein Mubarak that could have been the role of men. To resolve these conflicts men in Egypt tend to turn religion, they advocate for proper explanation to women on what the Koran say about decision making among other manhood roles (Silber 33). Men in USA also face conflict role and probably one of the worst, take-over of children siring role, some women in the United States decline the sexual role of men and resort to laboratory births. Question 6 Social networking and social reciprocity are primary recipients towards a healthy society (Bryfonski 23). Social net-working refer to the exchange of information between or among social actors while social reciprocity refers of to the virtual of repaying a good action with a good action too (Buskens 27). In Egypt social networking and reciprocity play a primary role in the maintenance of stable and working social structures. The two also go a long way into the process of socialization of the new members into society. I believe we place significant emphasis on social networking and not on reciprocity. Researches on the usage of social networks (Facebook, Google plus, twitter, and LinkedIn) show that the United States of America lead globally in hyper texting and hyper-networking (Bellini 68). In terms of reciprocity Americans are too busy with investments, and specifically to the self. Works Cited Abrams, Liesa. Divorce. San Diego, Calif: Lucent Books, 2004. Print. Allen, James P. Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print. Amos, Janine, and Howard Davies. Divorce. London: Cherrytree, 2007. Print. Bellini, Scott. Building Social Relationships: A Systematic Approach to Teaching Social Interaction Skills to Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Social Difficulties. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Pub. Co, 2007. Print. Bennett, Anne E. Family Structure and Support Issues. Hauppauge, N.Y: Nova Science Publishers, 2006. Print. Borman, Morris. The Twilight of American Culture. New York: Norton, 2001. Print. Bryfonski, Dedria. The Global Impact of Social Media. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Print. Buskens, Vincent W. Social Networks and Trust. Boston, Mass: Kluwer Academic, 2002. Print. Dubois, Nicole. A Sociocognitive Approach to Social Norms. London [u.a.: Routledge, 2003. Print. Early, Gerald L. Miles Davis and American Culture. Saint Louis: Missouri Historical Soc. Press, 2001. Print. Lepenies, Wolf. The Seduction of Culture in German History. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 2006. Print. Moscovitch, Arlene. Egypt the Culture. New York: Crabtree Pub, 2008. Print. Posner, Eric A. Social Norms, Nonlegal Sanctions, and the Law. Cheltenham [u.a.]: Elgar, 2007. Print. Silber, Nina. Gender and the Sectional Conflict. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2008.Print. Wertenbruch, Anna. Gender Roles and Stereotypes in Dorothy Allison's Bastard Out of Carolina. S.l.: Grin Verlag, 2013. Print. Read More