Familial Characteristics Of Koreans And Vietnamese - Assignment Example

Familial Characteristics Of Koreans And VietnameseImmigrants from Vietnam have certain values of the family that are unique to them. These values are strictly followed by Vietnamese families as it helps in maintaining their identity and position in the multinational society. An example is their take on family devotion. Vietnamese believe that the whole family, including all children, is to be responsible for taking care of the family. This is as opposed to the Koreans who rely solely on the eldest son to take care of the family.

Another unique familial value in the Vietnamese families is the relationship between women and their families. The women are allowed to maintain stronger ties with their families even after they are married. This differs from the Koreans where women married to the eldest sons are expected to live with their in- laws. The normal American family contrasts significantly to the typical Korean and Vietnamese families. Unlike Vietnamese and Korean families, American families believe that there are designated roles for family members.

It is the responsibility of parents to take care of the family, and children may chip in only if they wish to do so. Even though the American family believes in respect to elders and parents, children are allowed to express their opinions and takes on issues in the family. Family members can express their emotions and feelings in public, and this stresses their affection to their loved ones. Koreans and Vietnamese children view American parents as less strict, more expressive and liberal than their own parents.

The Koreans and Vietnamese believe in family ties that extend to in laws and grandparents. In the American family, however, families are composed of parents, children and sometimes grandparents. In short, the American families take care of their own families and are self sufficient. In fact, most American families take their aged relatives to the nursing home, an evident contrast to the Vietnamese family. The latter prefer that the eldest son takes care of the aged relatives. This is a positive value that the Vietnamese, even those that have conformed to the American family doctrines, intend to keep.

On the other hand, emotional expressivity found in the American culture is admired by many Korean and Vietnamese. If given a chance, they have indicated that they would change their parents’ lack of emotional connection. Most of them view this as a form of expression of love and affection, a value that lacks in their communities. From the Chinese Confucianism, the Korean and Vietnamese have learned and adopted certain values of the family structure and behavior. Examples of these traits include relationship between family members and solidarity in the family.

The two communities believe that family comes first before individual needs. This implies that one will always solve family problems before handling their own so that the family survives. The strength of family ties is very strong and proceeds until death. The Koreans and Vietnamese also spell out that children must respect their elders and parents. Young ones are not allowed to argue with or talk back to their elders. They are not allowed to express their opinions and ideas. Similarly, wives are also to show obedience and loyalty to their husbands and men in the society.

The Koreans and Vietnamese emphasize on the value of self control. However, they discourage expression of emotions and affections, especially in public. The children later in life offer support to their parents and the elderly. The communities respect the society elites as education is a valuable aspect there. A community that sticks with its traditional values is viewed as strong and healthy. Just like Koreans and Vietnamese, communities should uphold their values irrespective of influence from surrounding communities.

However, it is also essential for such communities to learn from their neighbours the positive traits that lack in their system and conform to them.