Vietnamese Family Culture
Family culture is an important part of life in Vietnam. It is a powerful force that shapes the social and emotional life of the Vietnamese people. Families form the basis of the society and play an important role in shaping the lives of the people. In this article, we will be looking at some of the key aspects of Vietnamese family culture.
Strong Family Relationships
The most important aspect of the Vietnamese family is the strong emphasis placed on family relationships. The values of loyalty and respect for one’s elders are strongly embedded in the culture. In Vietnamese society, the elderly are held in high esteem and family members are expected to show proper respect and adherence to tradition. The Confucian system of filial piety is deeply rooted in the culture and is highly valued.
The eldest members of the family hold the most power. They are respected and obeyed by the younger members. Family unity is highly valued, and efforts are made to maintain strong relationships between family members.
Extended Family Units
In Vietnam, extended families are common. This means that family members like grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins all live together in one household. This extended family structure is known as a “tính” in Vietnamese. The extended family functions as a single unit and has a strong influence on the lives of the individuals living within it.
Each member of the tính has a role to play. The eldest member is usually seen as the head of the family and is responsible for making decisions. The other members of the tính are expected to follow the elder’s will. This system of decision making is based on a strong hierarchy that enables the family to function as a single unit.
Responsibilities of Each Family Member
In the Vietnamese family culture, each member has certain inherited rights and responsibilities. The eldest members of the family hold the most authority and are responsible for making decisions for the family. They are also seen as moral guardians and must be respected and obeyed by the other family members.
The younger members of the family are responsible for helping with the day-to-day tasks, such as helping to care for the children and elderly, as well as doing household chores. They are also expected to help out with the family business.
The extended family also plays an important role in the lives of the individuals living in the tính. Each member of the extended family is responsible for taking care of or helping each other out. This can range from offering emotional or financial support to helping out with a task like taking care of the youngest members of the family.
Gender Roles in the Family
Gender roles play an important role in the Vietnamese family culture. Men are traditionally seen as the head of the family and are expected to take care of the financial needs. Women are seen as the nurturers and are expected to take care of the emotional and daily needs of the family.
Men are also seen as moral guardians of the family and expected to act as the disciplinarians. Women are entrusted with the task of teaching the children the Confucian values and traditions.
The family plays an important role in Vietnamese culture. The values and traditions of the family are deeply embedded in the culture and they shape the social and emotional life of the Vietnamese people. Strong family relationships, extended family units, the responsibilities of each family member and the traditional gender roles are all key aspects of Vietnamese family culture that contribute to creating a strong support system and a unified society.
