Families in China and the U.S.

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the issue of families in relation to China and the United States. The paper further explores the issue of poverty and the struggle of the family unit in both countries in relation to economic concerns. A discussion of families in rural and urban areas, as well as the manner in which families live in these locales is examined. The concept of social class is presented and discussed in relation to how social class impacts the family unit and how societal beliefs exist that create barriers to altering the lives of the poor. Finally, the issue of culture is examined and the differences between China and America with regard to culture and living in the family unit are explored.

From the Paper:

"The United States is considered a country that is the leading power in the world, while China continues to experience economic hardships and needed development. In both countries, however, the focus on the family is a concern because the family is believed to be integral to society. The Chinese families that exist in the modern world experience many of the same difficulties that are found by American families in rural and urban areas. This includes poverty, which is the number one social issue that impacts family units in both nations. Additionally, in both countries the issue of social class standing is apparent, with the poor often being outcast from the social order and forgotten. In China there has been a significant push to change the conditions for the poor, however, there are still those families that have been unaffected by governmental programs, which has been the case in the United States for decades. While these similarities exist between Chinese and American families, the greatest factor that separates their place in society is culture. The manner in which families conduct their lives because of social expectations and the beliefs related to gender differences and children impacts families in China differently than in America. However, it is clear that regardless of the cultural variances that affect families in these nations, within both cultures families are consistently attempting to survive and continue the progress of each generation in the hopes that eventually the family will know success."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "China Country Assessment". UNDP Poverty Report. 2000. 17 January 2007. <http://www.undp.org/povertyreport/countryprofiles/china1.html>
• "Chinese Cultural Studies". CUNY. 17 January 2007. <http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/chinwomn.html>
• "Compilation of Social Security Laws". Social Security Online. 17 January 2007. <http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title04/0400.htm>
• "Poverty in the United States". National Poverty Center. 2006. 17 January 2007. <http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/>
• Zhigang, X. "Dissecting China's Middle Class". China Daily. 2004. 17 January 2007. <http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/27/content_386060.htm>

More papers on Families in China and the U.S.:

• Comparison Essay # 19916 : "Marriage in China"
• Argumentative Essay # 67344 : "U.S. Population Control"
• Narrative Essay # 117046 : "Life of a Chinese Immigrant"

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