Collectivism in Saudi Arabia
Collectivism in Saudi Arabian Families
To explore this family model we will use Hofstead’s cultural dimensions which breakdown a country’s culture by exploring a number of different dimensions. These dimensions, which have been examined in another section, are power distance, individualism vs. collectivism, masculine vs. feminine, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation and indulgence vs. restraint. Each of these dimensions categorizes individual cultures on a scale of one to a hundred depicting the degree to which it is on one end of the spectrum or the other. When attempting to understand why Saudi Arabian families are more likely to include multiple generations and extended family we need to consider the individualism vs. collectivism dimension. Cultures that emphasize individualism, such as the United States, are cultures that prize a person who is ambitious and looks after themselves whereas a collectivist culture is one “in which people from birth onward are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended family, which continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty.” (Hofstede, p 4). This quote from Hofstede highlights how a collectivist society truly values the importance of being in a group. Since the family is the first group a person belongs to, in a collectivist society it is especially important to act with the group in mind over the individual.
Saudi Arabia which has a 25 on the scale of individualism versus collectivism leans largely towards collectivism. Both the nuclear family and extended family in Saudi Arabia is very important. Family members think of the group as a whole and ways to better the group before considering themselves. This may be a bit of a struggle for a visitor to understand, especially when travelling from a Western country such as the United States. Although family may be important in these countries the choices individuals make are for themselves and their own benefits. Saudi Arabian families are about the ‘we’ not the ‘I’; they consider the varying opinions that the family has and individuals follow those values.
Saudi Arabia which has a 25 on the scale of individualism versus collectivism leans largely towards collectivism. Both the nuclear family and extended family in Saudi Arabia is very important. Family members think of the group as a whole and ways to better the group before considering themselves. This may be a bit of a struggle for a visitor to understand, especially when travelling from a Western country such as the United States. Although family may be important in these countries the choices individuals make are for themselves and their own benefits. Saudi Arabian families are about the ‘we’ not the ‘I’; they consider the varying opinions that the family has and individuals follow those values.
Effect of Collectivism on Family Decision Making
Going off of this emphasis on valuing the ‘we’ in the family unit over the individual matches the conversation that occurred during the cross-cultural conversations with our American classroom and the Saudi Arabian classroom. During one session we were discussing relationships and what happens when someone wants to get married. Everyone in Saudi Arabia agreed that marriage was not a light matter and required everyone in the family’s input. On the other hand, in the United States, consulting your family may be common but ultimately they are not the ones with the final say in the matter. When this opinion was shared, it was met with some resistance from the students in Saudi Arabia because of what they see from the entertainment from the United States. They shared that American romantic comedies hardly ever show a family have a significant contribution to decisions that young people make about love. This was a valid point from their perspective and the American students agreed that even if they talked to their family about their relationships, it would ultimately be the individuals in the couple making the decision to get married.
There are also several instances of the importance on family in our conversations with our partners from Saudi Arabia. One of our partners, Rana Al’Atobi, consistently mentioned family as important factors in the plans she made for her future. For example, she had often expressed a desire to go to the United States to improve her English and maybe get a job however; several reasons that would prevent her from doing so are family matters. She already has one sister who is living here but if she were to return to Saudi Arabia before Rana left then she expressed a desire not to be in the United States alone. She also has mentioned that her parent’s approval of her plans is crucial to her actually accomplishing her goals. (Rana Al’atobi, personal communication, December 1st, 2012). Rewaa Bodah, another member of our interconnected group, described how it was a challenge for her to be away from her family while at university because her family plays such an integral role in her life (Rewaa Bodah, personal communication, September 17th, 2012). The fact that she struggles with being separated from her family and calls her family everyday shows a key difference between the importance of family in the United States and Saudi Arabia. Although many American students miss their families while they are in college, there is hardly a comparison to the integral role that family plays in an individual’s life from Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabian culture, family is inseparable to an individual and how they define themselves. Part of a person’s identity is in the family unit, their triumphs and their failures. How they learn this is dependent on the style of parenting they are raised with.
There are also several instances of the importance on family in our conversations with our partners from Saudi Arabia. One of our partners, Rana Al’Atobi, consistently mentioned family as important factors in the plans she made for her future. For example, she had often expressed a desire to go to the United States to improve her English and maybe get a job however; several reasons that would prevent her from doing so are family matters. She already has one sister who is living here but if she were to return to Saudi Arabia before Rana left then she expressed a desire not to be in the United States alone. She also has mentioned that her parent’s approval of her plans is crucial to her actually accomplishing her goals. (Rana Al’atobi, personal communication, December 1st, 2012). Rewaa Bodah, another member of our interconnected group, described how it was a challenge for her to be away from her family while at university because her family plays such an integral role in her life (Rewaa Bodah, personal communication, September 17th, 2012). The fact that she struggles with being separated from her family and calls her family everyday shows a key difference between the importance of family in the United States and Saudi Arabia. Although many American students miss their families while they are in college, there is hardly a comparison to the integral role that family plays in an individual’s life from Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabian culture, family is inseparable to an individual and how they define themselves. Part of a person’s identity is in the family unit, their triumphs and their failures. How they learn this is dependent on the style of parenting they are raised with.
Parenting Style in Saudi Arabia
Parenting style is also, for the most part, very different in Saudi Arabia than in the United States. Since the culture is centered on collectivism and a family’s reputation depends on each individual, children are raised very carefully and given a significant amount of attention. Families are patriarchal, with fathers as the head of the household and with the final word in regards to the family. Their style of parenting coincides with this and most families in Saudi Arabia have authoritarian parents. Children are taught the values of the family and the importance of respecting your parents and making them proud. Rewaa Bodah shared in an email correspondence that when discussing important decisions that involve the whole family, the children are allowed to say what they think, however; it is well acknowledged that her parents will have the final say in the matter (Rewaa Bodah, email correspondence, December 11th, 2012). Family members watch out for each other as well as making sure no one does anything to dishonor the family. Families have little tolerance for family members who step out of line since so much rides on a families reputation. As a collectivist society, it isn't an individual’s own merit that is considered but their family connections and achievements as well.
This authoritarian parenting style may be challenging for American individuals to enter into. This may be the case because, in the United States they are used to being evaluated based on what they have achieved not who their family is. The idea that your family has a strong influence on how society views you could be a very strange concept to American travelers. Another challenge for many individuals coming from the United States could be that parenting styles vary based on each family whereas in Saudi Arabia most families are authoritarian with fathers in charge. This patriarchal structure could be a particular struggle for women to come into since there is more freedom for them in parenting and in making family decisions in America.
This authoritarian parenting style may be challenging for American individuals to enter into. This may be the case because, in the United States they are used to being evaluated based on what they have achieved not who their family is. The idea that your family has a strong influence on how society views you could be a very strange concept to American travelers. Another challenge for many individuals coming from the United States could be that parenting styles vary based on each family whereas in Saudi Arabia most families are authoritarian with fathers in charge. This patriarchal structure could be a particular struggle for women to come into since there is more freedom for them in parenting and in making family decisions in America.