Family Values

The family is the most basic unit of any society. Without healthy, functioning families, a culture cannot survive. God has defined marriage as one man married to one woman. This has been both the legal and traditional understanding of a marriage – literally – for millennia, since Eden. Family values are the ideals and beliefs that support and give strength to this traditional definition of a family. Families in Malaysia are structured depending on where the family lives. In rural areas, where 57% of the total population lives, the typical family are consists of the whole extended family living together under one household. The extended family consists of unmarried children, parents, grandparents, married sons and their families. Families living in these rural areas generally have more children than those living in urban areas. Each family averages 2-3 children. These families are also extremely patriarchal. Typically, they are monogamous; this factor really depends on the religion of the family. Families living in urban areas, where 43% of the population lives, mainly consist of one nuclear family per household. This includes only parents and unmarried children. These families are generally smaller, averaging 1-2 children per family. These people are more modern, so women help to rule and make decisions for the family. However, this area is still a bit more patriarchal than matriarchal. These families are generally monogamous; this factor depends on the religion of the family. In Malaysia, family is valued above all. It is valued higher than individual accomplishment. Families in Malaysia, whether living in urban or rural areas, spend more time with their families than Americans. Every night, Malaysian families have dinner together, and value every minute they spend together. Other things that they value are seniority and obedience. The oldest male in the family is valued above everyone else. Obedience is highly valued, and children are always expected to be