- 10:10am
Oct 15, 2001

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Bonjour à tous,
J'ai noté un certain paradoxe au sein des familles américaines. Vous parlez beaucoup d'amour. Il me semble que les Américains sont très attachés aux valeurs familiales. Toutefois, des petits détails dûs au mode de vie américain montrent que les différents membres d'une famille ne font que se "croiser" dans la journée(très peu de repas en commun, à part pour les fêtes religieuses et nationales, et pour les vacances par exemple)...
Toutefois, une partie de ma famille, qui est américaine,tente de se réunir de plus en plus pour dîner ensemble.Est-ce une exception?
En France, le repas est un moment privilégié où l'on partage ses opinions, où l'on se retrouve.
Qu'en est-il pour vous???

- 10:15am Oct
15, 2001

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Il es vrai qu'en France nous attachons beaucoup d'importance aux repas en famille. Un repas, même le midi ne consiste pas à juste prendre quelque chose dans le frigo. C'est un endroit où tout le monde peu se retrouver et discuter de sujets divers. Je n'ai pas eu l'impression quand j'ai été aux Etats-Unis que les repas avaient une si grande importance à part peut-être le dimanche. Chacun mangeait un peu quand il avait le temps.

- 12:23am Oct
16, 2001

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Capucine,

Although the classical American family used to be stereotyped as one that values eating dinner together, I agree with you that this is not often presently true. The typical American family can now best be described as busy. Oftentimes both parents work full jobs or children work after school. Children are also encouraged to partcipate in community and extracirricular activites that might occur during dinner time. As a result, the American family does not eat meals with each other as much as it used to since everybody is so busy. However, the American does value holiday meals, especially Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time for American families to enjoy a nice meal together and to show their appreciation.

The traditional family in the United States used to be one of a mother, father, and children. However, that is no longer true. Many families only have one parent and that is become true at an increasing rate. Does there exist a traditional French family or is that image changing over time like in the United States?

- 12:55am
Oct 16, 2001

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I agree with Jeffrey to some extent, although I have a few things to add. Meals are often social times, eaten either with friends or family. Though I'll admit that I often eat a quick meal before rushing off to one activity or another, many times I will sit with a friend to chat while we eat. When I am at home (1500 miles away), my dad makes quite an effort to eat dinner with me because it gives us a chance to talk each day that we might not otherwise make time for. In summary, I enjoy and prefer eating with other people, especially family, but sometimes our busy lives do not allow it.

I am also interested to know if it is considered "bad" to have a nonstandard family (i.e., a family with only one parent, or a divorce, or so on) in France.

- 07:37pm Oct
17, 2001

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Les familles monoparentales ou divorcées sont relativement courantes en France. Plus personne n'y fait vraiment attention. C'est quelque chose qui est entré dans les normes.

- 11:13pm Oct 17,
2001

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The French and American responses to the word family were very similar, but it seems to me that the similarities go far deeper than we had originally inferred (and imagined) from the word associations excercise. This gradual change towards single and divorced families is becoming an increasing trend not only in America but around the world. Even Lebanon, my country of origin, has been experiencing the same phenomenon. It is intriguing that despite our many cultural differences there is some similarity between our societies that is slowly driving forward this disappointing trend. (Dissapointing to me, and this is just a personal opinion, I'm not against divorce or single families at all, I just think that it many cases (and not all cases) such families have negative effects on their children)

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be the catalyst driving forward this trend?