Cultural Perspective on Romantic Relationships: China and the United States
Established cultural differences and upbringing are two highly interpersonal, intertwined concepts that affect various dating environments. Regardless, romantic relationships are crucial for health and well-being in the lives of young adults in the majority of cultures. The United States has a very self-centric way of viewing these relationships due to its evident, independent culture. In contrast, some collectivistic cultures possess interdependent qualities. For example, China’s traditional culture is family-centric. Additionally, the older generation preserves this interdependence by forcing it upon their children; therefore, adolescents’ perspective of relationships …show more content…
Romantic decisions that are based on “true love” is a strong American cultural concept. In contrast, Chinese parents remain actively involved in their adult children’s mate selection processes and marital lives (Cao 104) through various means. Parental involvement and pressure intimidates the youth to cease relations with someone if their parents disapproved. Additionally, one of the enduring cultural traits is “xiao,” which, in the most basic sense, refers to filial piety (Blair 3), validates the notion that adolescents in China wish to please their families. Furthermore, a mix of the traditional cultural norms emphasizing filial piety and the strategic responses to socioeconomic circumstances may have jointly contributed to the continuing high parental involvement in adult children’s marital lives (Cao 92). In addition to filial piety, intergenerational hierarchy also possesses influence in Chinese culture. In contrast, children may differ in the extent to which this choice is an individual decision, with young adults, who are more socialized in the U.S. cultural ideal, expecting to be more autonomous (Shenhav 18). To clearly understand cultural differences, the differences between interdependent and individual aspects in Eastern and Western culture, respectively, is crucial. Hence, individual choice within dating relationships and mate selection processes is more likely to …show more content…
In America, the country has a basic foundation on the values of independence, which creates an individualistic society. On the other hand, China’s traditions are inherently collectivistic; therefore, the society is interdependent. Moreover, it can be deduced that the collectivistic culture affects adolescents’ perception of romantic relationships severely. In American culture, teenagers and young adults are sometimes praised for seeking relationships at young ages because it represents maturity. In contrast, relationships that occur during adolescence bring shame not only to the individual but also to the family-furthering the guilt felt by the adolescent. Additionally, this interdependent nature in families is most prevalent in parental intervention. Where serving the family is considered the purpose of life for a child, parents in China often choose to make decisions regarding their child’s romantic relationship. They wish to find someone who can financially support their daughter, or be of use to their son, and will disapprove of an individual who doesn’t possess these traits. Whereas in American culture, relationships are viewed as the individual’s choice. Finally, it can be concluded that Chinese individuals are pressured to function in a way that adheres to the hierarchical system and concept of
Established cultural differences and upbringing are two highly interpersonal, intertwined concepts that affect various dating environments. Regardless, romantic relationships are crucial for health and well-being in the lives of young adults in the majority of cultures. The United States has a very self-centric way of viewing these relationships due to its evident, independent culture. In contrast, some collectivistic cultures possess interdependent qualities. For example, China’s traditional culture is family-centric. Additionally, the older generation preserves this interdependence by forcing it upon their children; therefore, adolescents’ perspective of relationships …show more content…
Romantic decisions that are based on “true love” is a strong American cultural concept. In contrast, Chinese parents remain actively involved in their adult children’s mate selection processes and marital lives (Cao 104) through various means. Parental involvement and pressure intimidates the youth to cease relations with someone if their parents disapproved. Additionally, one of the enduring cultural traits is “xiao,” which, in the most basic sense, refers to filial piety (Blair 3), validates the notion that adolescents in China wish to please their families. Furthermore, a mix of the traditional cultural norms emphasizing filial piety and the strategic responses to socioeconomic circumstances may have jointly contributed to the continuing high parental involvement in adult children’s marital lives (Cao 92). In addition to filial piety, intergenerational hierarchy also possesses influence in Chinese culture. In contrast, children may differ in the extent to which this choice is an individual decision, with young adults, who are more socialized in the U.S. cultural ideal, expecting to be more autonomous (Shenhav 18). To clearly understand cultural differences, the differences between interdependent and individual aspects in Eastern and Western culture, respectively, is crucial. Hence, individual choice within dating relationships and mate selection processes is more likely to …show more content…
In America, the country has a basic foundation on the values of independence, which creates an individualistic society. On the other hand, China’s traditions are inherently collectivistic; therefore, the society is interdependent. Moreover, it can be deduced that the collectivistic culture affects adolescents’ perception of romantic relationships severely. In American culture, teenagers and young adults are sometimes praised for seeking relationships at young ages because it represents maturity. In contrast, relationships that occur during adolescence bring shame not only to the individual but also to the family-furthering the guilt felt by the adolescent. Additionally, this interdependent nature in families is most prevalent in parental intervention. Where serving the family is considered the purpose of life for a child, parents in China often choose to make decisions regarding their child’s romantic relationship. They wish to find someone who can financially support their daughter, or be of use to their son, and will disapprove of an individual who doesn’t possess these traits. Whereas in American culture, relationships are viewed as the individual’s choice. Finally, it can be concluded that Chinese individuals are pressured to function in a way that adheres to the hierarchical system and concept of