Comparison of Family Life in UAE and China

This article compares family life in the United Arab Emirates and China, highlighting similarities and differences in family structures, gender roles, and cultural values.

Running head: COMPARISON OF FAMILY LIFE
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Family Life in UAE and China
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Family Life in UAE and China
Family Life in the United Arab Emirates represents contemporary lifestyles with an
endogamous marriage within a kinship unit. The conventional family in the region used to dwell
in extended forms of family though the form is slowly declining with the development of the
economy with most families living in small groups with one or two children as opposed to the
previous state. Here, it is evident that the globalization factor has affected the way of life in the
region leading to a disruption in the cultural considerations in family life. The imbalance in the
population structure led to the discouragement of nuclear families.
Several generations in the region live together in the same area to provide support,
encouragement, and love to one another. The spirit of mutual responsibility acts as a unifying
factor between families as dictated in their religion. The essence of family is fostered by the
religion which dictates on the importance of staying close to each other and assisting one another
in times of trouble (Parakandi & Behery, 2016). As opposed to the setup in the western nations,
the region prefers in keeping close ties with the members and assists one another in development
endeavors. Despite the busy lifestyle, individuals in the family find time to dine and wine
together through their several celebrations.
Family in the religion entails group of people closely related by blood thus forming
unbreakable bonds bounded by same values, faith, and culture common to the family members.
The fact justifies the need for uniting and living together to share the faith and cultural practices
in retaining the family structures prescribed in their religion. Families are in charge of the
welfare of individuals and their task ends whenever a man finally gets married and forms
separate family by becoming independent. Moreover, they are expected to continue with the

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bond and have respect to their in-laws and engage in family affairs and celebrations from time to
time (Wang & Kassam, 2016). In essence, they are to contribute in case of any event and
personally take place in it.
Moreover, families are considered as a sign of pride where families were encouraged to
grow large for reputation and support reasons. Families with large members would always
receive respect and acknowledgement from the rest thus promoting the culture across
generations. As such, the old Emirati houses were designed to be large enough to accommodate
members where several rooms were present for everyone (Miller, Kyriazi & Paris, 2017). The
family umbrella promotes love, security, support, and a sense of belonging to individuals.
A number of people in the region prefer arranged marriage despite the change in the
pattern. The families are closely tied and a preference is given to marrying the locals as opposed
to the non nationals. The motivation driving the marriage of the locals is fostered under the
national fund where a young man receives close to $19000 from the marriage fund upon
marrying a local (Sabban, 2014). The fact expressed the close unit of family life where people
are encouraged to marry within their nation. With the nation being under the Islamic religion,
men are allowed to marry up to four wives. However, most men in the region have only one wife
though they are encouraged by the religion to attain the maximum of more than one wife.
Gender roles have over time shifted with the role of the women and men embracing
change as opposed to the previous state. Women who were previously care givers can presently
seek work opportunities thus leading to the rise of caregivers in the region who administer
assistance to the families (Holtzhausen, 2011). A social structure exists in the region where a
tribal and family connection exists thus forming the basis of Emirati Social Structure. Each

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family is shaped by the tribal considerations where a person’s behavior and culture are shaped
according to the region and social structure one comes from.
Family remains a treasure and thus a close unit. In every occurrence, family comes first
and the members of a family choose to support their own in every endeavor both in the
emotional, financial, pr psychological aspects of life. Besides, kinship remains in high regard as
families run business empires according to their kinship lines. As such, same tribe members love
to live close to each other for support and development purposes as engagements in business and
social life are built (Schvaneveldt, Kerpelman & Schvaneveldt, 2005). However, the recent times
have seen a shift in the setup with people living independently despite working in family
structures. Besides, the number of children as observed in the past culture has reduced based on
economic and social dimensions in the nation.
Marriage in the nation forms a contemporary society as it is based on the traditions of the
Arab and the Islamic religion. Concepts and beliefs on tolerance are common in the wake of
social and economic conditions that might affect a given family. The religion dictates for a high
social relation between in-laws, persons in marriage, and the strangers as long as they belong to
the same society. Whenever planning to marry, parents are in charge of selecting the best girl
from a family that has respect for the religion and the traditions as well as good reputation
(Whiteoak, Crawford & Mapstone, 2006). Such aspects were done by relatives who would play
as the matchmakers in making sure their lineage continues within a respectable standard.
Conflict Theory
Conflict in the case exists as different members of the community seek to become independent
and work in solitude as opposed to the communal and family efforts in the previous case. At the
same time, the recent changes allowing women to work creates tension in the roles of men and

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women in the society. Presently, the situation makes women less obedient to men, especially
among those that have acquired education. As a result, the situation complicates the lines of
authority existing previously where men remained heads of the family. Thus, the conflict theory
is present in the case.
Families in China
In China, family is arguably the most essential social institution where the blood ties
among people in the community remain cornerstone of the society. A close tie among family
members is observed where a genealogical record and customs are passed down from one
generation to the other. In keeping the close ties, sons and their wives live with the son’s parents
until death where the respective wealth and property are divided for inheritance purposes (Hu &
Scott, 2016). Married daughters are however left out in such an arrangement as one is considered
a part of the other family one gets married in.
The past time experienced absolute authority from the father as the head of the family.
However, times have changed and the system has been altered with the coming of globalization
where individuals now begin living in isolation from their parent’s home and yield more decision
making for themselves. Younger generations are moving away from their parents and developing
new values and culture mostly affected by the western cultures. According to Xie & Hu (2014)
sons in their respective families bear the responsibilities of providing and taking care of their
aged parents. The present times have seen a decline in the number of children per family as the
government seeks to plan for its growing population.
Moreover, family members are bound by law and customs to support one another
especially the aged and disabled members of the family. Individuals in a family with no children
were advised to purchase infants to complete family structures. Traditionally, married couples

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moved to their husband’s parent house where it would be filled with relatives and have
themselves stay there for a reasonable time (Weller, 2018). The case of extended families
continues to exist in the rural parts of China with the towns experiencing independent families
due to economic and social factors. The present state of globalization is slowly leading to the
kinless family structure where some couples despite being stable opt to have no children thus
affecting their lineage immensely. The cost of living for the families has encouraged a decline in
number of children in a family thus cutting down on blood ties.
The family roles remain as in the ancient times where the head of the family remains as
the breadwinner who provides financial support while the mother remains in charge of
responsibilities surrounding the house chores. However, the custom is slowly shifting with
women working to support their husbands especially in the towns and cities. The entire family is
mandated to share a meal at least once in a day where respect for adults on the table is observed.
The family culture in China values marriage and no concept of inter-family marriage is
encouraged. The presence of match makers continues to exist where families are introduced and
marriage plans set pace with the elders taking the center stage in such matters (Raymo, Park, Xie
& Yeung, 2015). The decision is solid and has to be respected since it comes from the elders who
conduct a background check to ascertain authenticity of the girl. Divorce was allowed to take
place though not common in the family structures. However, changes have occurred and families
live in their own units with the Chinese family’s cultures holding them together and binding
them to their lineage.
Conflict Theory in the Case
Conflict theory is present in the case where tensions and conflicts between the elders and the
present day youths exists when it comes to yielding of power and authority in the present and the

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past society. In the past, elders were to be obeyed and had control over the youths. However, the
present state has been witnessed by changes in authority where the youths live in independence.
At the same time, the case of women seeking employment has led to conflict of power in control
of resources across the society. The rich want to accumulate more while the low class in the
society strives to gain. In the long term, conflicts arise thus creating unnecessary tension in the
society.
Comparison between Family Structures
China and the United Arab Emirates share most family values and way of life. The
collectivism aspect of life in a family exists given the close relation and assistance provided to
members of the family in diverse life situations. A consideration of decisions is made with regard
to how it affects the rest of the persons in the society. Thus, both nations encounter the aspect of
collectivism in upgrading one another and taking care of the rest of community members falling
within their family.
Thus, decisions are commonly made for the greater good of the family.
Value on relationships exist in both cases where families value living together either in one big
house or surrounded by relatives in a respective location. Members of a family are expected to
know each other and work closely in business and other aspects of their livelihoods while
empowering one another in the process (Ebrey, 2014). The case of family run businesses is
common within the two family structures thus promoting relationships between individuals.
Thus, value for relationships and personal life remains evident and present in the two nations.
Families in both setups have respect for the elderly given the roles bound by the culture and
religion.

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The fact that marriage partners can be sourced by the elders justifies the respect for the
elderly in such matters. Moreover, families are tasked to look after the elderly in both nations
and this is bound by law and the religion respectively. As opposed to the western nations, the
two nations enjoy a close family unit where one individual, especially the elderly and the
disabled are well taken care of (Jankowiak & Moore, 2016). A close family unit is therefore
characteristic in both cases. Authority centers are also common with the head of the family
remaining powerful in both cases. Men are decision makers and expect all time respect from
children and women.
Change in gender roles and family structures are evident in both nations. The disruption
caused by globalization as well as the development of cities has led to change in gender roles
where women presently are allowed to work and contribute in upbringing the family. Women
participate in economic activities and are presently allowed to seek education opportunities and
grow their career. On the other hand, the close and large family unit has changed over time as
people relocate to the cities and towns to seek job opportunities (Liu, Han, Xiao, Li & Feldman,
2015). As opposed to the earlier case, industrialization has disrupted the family structures in both
nations thus leading to the deterioration of family values as far as close ties are concerned.
However, the two nations differ in the number of wives and divorce aspect in the family.
While the United Arab Emirates advocates for the marriage of up to four wives, the Chinese
culture remains quiet on the aspect. The one child policy reduces the chances of marrying many
wives and thus fosters the need for a reduction in the population. On the other hand, the UAE has
strict measures that do not permit common divorce cases according to their religion. On the other
hand, China allows the same as it does not have close rules on the same. As such, it becomes the

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greatest difference in the family structures based on the issue of polygamy and policies on
divorce.
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