Cultural Post 7- Bethany- 110- Attitudes About Family

[bethany marcelle]

In Afghanistan family is the most important social bond and a primary identity source for most people. Family and extended family and kinship ties hold higher value in Afghanistan than they do in many countries. While practices and views of family differ somewhat across Afghanistan due to ethnic differences. The defense of familial honor is important therefore honor-killings, vendettas and warring clans is common in Afghanistan, particularly in rural regions. Afghan families often intermarry parallel or cross-cousins. Families are rooted in male identity, that is, families are patriarchal, patrilineal, and patrilocal. Though polygyny is allowed it is not commonly practiced. Most families marry within kinship groups or at least ethnic groups. It is rare for a couple to intermarry across racial, ethnic or religious divisions. Elders and parents are to be honored by parents. Families are usually large, by Western standards. This is even more impressive considering that Afghanistan has the highest maternal mortality rate and the second highest under 5 years old child mortality rate.