Question

What emphasis do work, study and family life have in the (USA)? Which of the 3 is most important in the US? 2. Is your personal emphasis the same? 3. As a new student, what support and understanding have you received from your family, friends, work place and colleagues? 4. If you are not receiving support and understanding, how might you work around the problem(s)?

Answer 1

• Since I belong to an Indian culture,every aspect including work,family and study hold importance.Family is considered to be the most important thing among the Indian society. It is still believed that without family, there would not be anyone on earth. Traditional marriages where families arrange for man to marry woman of their choice still exist and see as normal. Some families do this just to have type of children they want in their family.Arrange marriages are still important wherein children are married accroding to parents choice.
• The scenario regarding work and study has changed and currently girls are motivated to educate themselves and work to be financially independet.But even with the so much education and advancements,the traditional approach of the families is still the same more or less.Girls still have to get married at a certain age even if they are working and doing well for themselves. A girl is considered "complete" if she is married and that too at a right age and has a family of her own. Some families still follow this thinking in my culture.
• My personal emphasis is study,work and family,in that order. Education is really important for me,whether you are a boy or girl and then working is equally important.Family is important as well since in our culture which is a collectivistic culture emphasising on family bonding and respecting elders is taught to us since beginning.And having a big family always helps in providing emotional and social important.But getting married because one "has" to is something which doesnt work for me. One should get married and start a family whenever they want to.
• Thankfully, I have the support and the freedom to choose whatever I want to do in life,since my family is not that narrow minded,they are traditional but not enforcing their decisions on me. And I hope in the Indian culture everyone values that freedom of choice for their children.