Collectivism VS Individualism： the Comparison of Family Values Between China and the USA

XU+Xiaowei++CHEN+Da

【Abstract】The paper states the collectivism and individualism from the perspective of Chinese and American family culture which can help people improve the cross-cultural sense， and promote the educational development and exchange between the two countries by studying the different family values between China and the USA.

【Key words】Collectivism； Individualism； family values

The Structure of Family

A traditional Chinese family generally consists of at least two generations of people including husband， wife and children and there universally exists the phenomenon of three generations， four generations living under one roof. In recent years， along with social progress and epochal change， the size and structure of traditional Chinese families have undergone changes.

American family structure is the core family， which is composed by father， mother and two or three children. They usually have their own separate residence， and family members have the economic independence.

The Ways of Educating Offspring

The feudal examination system from Tang Dynasty to Qing Dynasty plays an important role for Chinese former and modern education. People at that time made the “A good scholar will make an official.” as the ultimate goal in their life. Until the Qing Dynasty， numbers of intellectuals began to find a better road in order to live well and fight for the motherland. Nowadays， most parents and teachers still regard being an officer as the object. It is the root for this view.

On the contrary， the United States is a country of immigrants and it has a rather short history. The old-fashioned ideas are seldom kept down；new thoughts could be received instantly and easily for the multi-cultural values. Parents also keep up with the latest family educational concepts， which is the factor affecting the family education of the present age.

The Expression of Collectivism Embodied In

1. Family Structure

The Chinese family culture has a huge impact from the family structure. The family culture of China is based on the land. As a result， the Chinese people pay more attention to collectivism. In addition， the concept of clan in Chinese family has been ingrained.

2. Ways of Educating Offspring

In general， the family educational mode of Chinese family is autocratic. Children have fewer rights to take part in getting the reason or experience by themselves. They are told that if they are docile and agreeable， they will be successful or obtain something easily. Because parents have suffered a lot trying to be successful in the past， they hoped that their children can pass over the obstacle then succeed directly.

The Expression of Individualism Embodied In

1. Family Structure

The nuclear family consists of a mother， a father， and the children. American lays emphasis on personality， their value orientation is based on the individualism. They lay stress on their own benefits， advocate the individual improvement and find their own true value. In American family， individual is the most basic one， which is the valuable and independent from his family relation. The American culture takes individual as a focus， paying great attention to individual freedom and right. The individuals standard and family transforms are closely correlative.

2. Ways of Educating Offspring

Influenced by the roles of parents， American family educational mode is democratic and free. As the close friends with the children， parents are very amiable and affable， which makes them convenient to educate the children. The education mode of American family is free and democratic.Parents regard children as the equal and independent family members. Besides， American children have more chances to choose.Their games， books， friends， future vacation， even the future spouse and marriage time could be chosen by themselves.

Conclusion

Through comparing Sino-American cultural elements， readers can understand their different family values， collectivism in Chinese family and individualism in American family. Analyzing the different Chinese and American family culture， this thesis could help people improve the cross-cultural cognition， and promote the education development and exchange between two countries.

References：

[1]Di Yanhua.American Culture.Changchun：Jilin Science& Technology Press，2001.

[2]Karl N.Equality and Freedom.America：Lerman Allan Herl Press，1985.

[3]顧明遠(yuǎn).教育大辭典[M].上海：上海教育出版社，1990.

【基金項目】西華大學(xué)學(xué)科平臺項目；外國語言學(xué)及應(yīng)用語言學(xué)研究中心。

作者簡介：

徐曉唯（1993-），女，西華大學(xué)外國語學(xué)院2016級碩士研究生。

陳達(dá)（1963-），男，西華大學(xué)外國語學(xué)院教授，碩士研究生導(dǎo)師，主要從事英語文學(xué)及翻譯理論研究。