Seventh Cultural Post - Attitudes about Family

[Heather Schmitz]

Families in India are extensive. As compared to the United States where one lives with one's nuclear family (mom/dad/children), in India the family unit constitutes the grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and nieces and nephews as well. The entire extended family lives near each other and supports each other. Family is cherished; it is important to be a help to your family, especially for children who are raised to help provide for older family members.  Grandparents are proud of their children and grandchildren, and often family names carry weight and differing levels of respect.  Especially in India which has a caste system, your family can determine your opportunities in life; the life of a Brahmin is necessarily different from that of an untouchable, and you cannot change your caste status given at birth.