中美家庭观念的文化差异比较 英文论文

OntheCulturalDifferencesintheFamilyConceptsbetweenChina

andAmericaI.TheRootCausesofSino-USCulturalDifferencesTheDefinitionofFamilybetweenChineseandAmericanTheDefinitionofFamilyinChinaTheDefinitionofFamilyinAmericaTheContrastresultTheComparisonofFamilyConceptbetweenChinaandAmericaTheComparisonofFamilySystemTheComparisonofFamilySizeTheComparisonoftheRelationshipofFamilyMemberTheComparisonofFamilyFunctionTheComparisonofChildren'sEducationTheComparisonoftheConceptofChildren'sEducationTheComparisonoftheMethodsofChildren'sEducationTheComparisonofOldFolks'SupportTheComparisonoftheConceptofOldFolks'SupportTheComparisonoftheMethodsofOldFolks'SupportConclusionOntheCulturalDifferencesintheFamilyConceptsbetweenChinaandAmericaThisisChina,anancientnationwith5000yearsofhistory,gloriouspastandadvancedcivilization.ThatistheUnitedStates,ayoung,multi-culturecountrywhichsoonbecametheleaderoftheworld.Comparedwiththesetwocountries,therearemanydifferentaspectsbetweenthem.Languageisthefirstdistinction,alongwithdifferentskincolor,haircolor,andfacialfeatures.Accordingtothebible,Godcreatestheworld,andhehaswillsforeverycreaturebelowhim.Humansaretoofarawayfromhimtoclearlyseehiswill.ButhistoryandtraditionofasocietycantellwhatGod'swillsare.Fromthepastittellsthathumangatheraroundtoformsociety.Inasociety,humansexperiencedifferentversionofGod'swills,andthenwritedownGod'swillsashistory.Withoutasociety,humancannotmoveon;humancannotprotecteachother;humancannotsurvive.Familyisoneofthefundamentalelementsthatmakeupasociety,andwithoutindividuals,there'snosuchthingcalledhome.Sohere'stheanswer,besidesthebiologicaldifferencesbetweentheAsiansandWesterner,whatmakesChineseandAmericancultureuniqueandstandoutaretheirowntradition,history,andfamily.I.TheRootCausesofSino-USCulturalDifferencesIngeneral,theculturaldifferenceisatfirstcomesfromtothenaturalworldunderstandingdifference,thephysicalgeographyconditionhasdecidedthevariousnationalvariousareasculturedevelopmentinitialdirection.Threeplateausea'srelativelyunenlightenedregioncharacteristic,causedancienttimestheChineseculturebasicallytoisolateatthesametimewithoutside,butthishasalsoprovidedtheadvantageousconditionfortheagriculturalcivilization'sgrowth,andhasformedtakethisasthefoundationandthesmallpeasanteconomyasthecharacteristiceconomicform.Atthesametime,therivercontinentalenvironmentandcreatestheself-sufficientnaturaleconomycausestheChinesetoapprovethatsentimentofthenatural,fettersfirmlythepeopleontheland,buttheagriculturalsociety'sstability,familymemberrelativesandfriends'long-termlivingtogether,whowillenabletheChinesetobereluctanttopartwayssinceoldtimeslooksheavily,thislettheChinesenationdisplayhappilytothethoughtemotiononeunhappymany,withunhappydifferent,happystaticisunhappymoveshappily,steadyisunhappychangeshappily.ButtheWesternculture'srunningwatersourceistheancientGreececulture,theancientGreececivilizationoriginatesinMediterraneanSea,itslocatesthemarineenvironmenthasraisedtheWesternnationalityprimitiveriskflarenationaldisposition.Intheiropinion,humanity'sstrengthandtheseacompareappearareverytinyandarefrail,butthehumanitydependeduponbravely,resolute,thegreatstrugglespiritwhichownhadtoconquerthesea,thereforehumanity'sbreadthofspiritwasgreaterthanthesea,allthesealsomoldedtheWesternnationalitytoopen,thebravedisposition.Therefore,lookedfromtheentireancienttimessocietyandtheculturalphenomenonthattheWesternistakeindividualasabeginning,developsoutward,unceasinglyself-pursue,self-development,simultaneouslyalsoself-innovation.ButbecauseChinatheenclosedtype,satisfies-liketheagriculturalsociety,displaysintenselytolocalthinkingoffondly,topeacefullifeyearning.II.TheDefinitionofFamilybetweenChineseandAmericanTheDefinitionofFamilyinChinaInChina,Thefamilynotonlymeanstheoppositesexandthepeopletobreedthecommunitywhichthechildrencompose,butalsomeansthecollectionbloodrelationshipinherits,themaritalunion,theproductionoperation,thefinanceexpends,thesocialenlightenmentetiquettecontrolandsoonmanyfunctionsareevenabody'ssocialsmallestunit.Generally,thefamilymemberlivestogether,carriesontheproductionandtheexpensetogether,moreoverunifiesaccordingtothebloodrelationship,whichisalsocalledthehumansocietythebiologicalreproductionunit.Thefamilyisformseconomicaldivisionoftakingmenandwomen'slaborasthefoundation.Outsideincludinginthehigherparaffininthegeographicalgroups,betweenthesame-typegeographicalgroups,takeavoidsthemarriageandthecloserelativemarriageastheprinciple,andmaintainsthecloseneighborisrelating,isonekindofinstitutionsocialunit.Therefore,itishumanity'suniqueuniversalunit.Chinese'sattachmenttofamily,bloodrelationship,dearonesethics,inbrainingrained,parents,childrenthroughoutwholefamily.Evenifgetsmarriedandbeginsacareer,inadditionsupposesthegateway,stillsharedeverythingwiththeparents,thesupportparents,attendsonone'sparents,regardsasitselfshouldthecompletelyresponsibility.Homeislikeatree;Homeislikeamachine,itismadeupofmanydifferentparts.Inthismachine,everypartisasimportantasothers.Thatishome,thatisfamily.Youcanleaveyourhome,youcanhateyourhome,youcancurseyourhome,butyoucanneverforgetaboutyourhome.Someday,youwillthinkaboutyourhomewhenyoufeellonely.InChina,peopletendtoviewhomeastheirheartoflove,homeisthesoulofafamily.TheDefinitionofFamilyinAmericaFamily,definedbytheUnitedStatesBureauoftheCensus,isagroupoftwoormorepersonsrelatedbyblood,marriage,oradoption.Accordingly,unmarriedpeople(eitherheterosexualorhomosexual)livingtogetherandfosterfamiliesareexcludedandthisisdisagreeabletomany.Infact,inmanycases,thedefinitionofafamilyismoreflexible.Forexample,courtshaveruledthatthedefinitionofafamilymayincludetwoadultpartnerswhoseinterdependentrelationshipislong-termandcharacterizedbyanemotionalandfinancialcommitment,ratherthanviewfamilymembersaspartnersexclusivelyrelatedbyblood,marriage,oradoption.InAmericanpeople'sopinion,familiesaretoprovidelove,warmth,andsupporttoeverymemberofit.Theidealofthefamilyisgroupcooperationtohelpachievethefulfillmentofeachindividualmember,andsharedaffectiontoreneweachmember'semotionalstrength.Incontrasttothatofmanyothercultures,theprimaryresponsibilityoftheAmericanfamilymemberisnottoadvancethefamilyassgroup,eithersociallyoreconomically,nortobringhonortothefamilyname.Afamilyisconsideredaveryimportantinstitutionwherethefundamentalvaluesandtraditionsofcertainsocialgroupistaughtandpasseddownfromgenerationtogeneration.TheContrastresultAccordingtoaninternationalsurvey,AsianchildrentendtolivelongerwiththeirparentsandcontributeincometothehouseholdthantheAmerican's.Becauseoftheuniquetradition,Chinesechildrenaremoredependentontheirfamily.Thedefinitionofhometothemisaplaceoncetheywillstayanddependonitfortherestoftheirlife.InChina,homeishome.Onceitbecomestheirhome,nomatterhowbusytheyare,theywillalwayscomebackandvisittheirhome.AmericanchildrenarenotliketheChinese.Inwesterner'smind,homeisjustaplacetheyusedtogrowupwith,andtheydonotwishtoalwaysstayattheirhome.Soastheygrewolder,theywillleavetheirhome,andfindsomeotherplacestostarttheirown“lovenet.”ChinesetendtocontributemoreincomestoitsfamilythanAmericans.BecauseinChina,familystillplaysastrongrole,thefamily'sincomedependsontheparentswhenthechildrenarestillyoung,andtheincomewilldependsonthechildrenwhentheygrewupandtheirparentswillretire.TheuniqueChinesetraditionindicatewhengirlsaremarried,theywilllivewiththeirhusbands'familyandcontributeincometothem.That'swhyforalmostfivethousandyears,theconceptionofboysarealwaysmoreimportantthangirls.Manyfamiliesdesiretohaveboysratherthangirls.There'sanoldsaying,“amarrieddaughterislikesomespilledwater,cannevercomeback.”That'swhynowinChina,therearemoreboysandgirlsandalotofboyswithpoorconditioncannotmarryagirltohaveafamily.Oncethegirlismarried,shecansometimesvisitherparentshome,butmostofthetime,shewilllivewithherhusband,andherhusband'sparents.皿.TheComparisonofFamilyConceptbetweenChinaandAmericaTheComparisonofFamilySystemTheComparisonofFamilySizeInChina,becauseoftheoverpopulationduringthemid-20thcentury,thegovernmenthastointroduceandapplythe“OneChildPolicy”toeachnewmarriedcouplebeginningin1979.Sincethepolicyisintroduced,eachmarriedcouplecanonlyhaveonechildunlessthechildhasdisabilityorisdeceased,then,thecouplecanhaveasecondchild.Thispolicyissomewhatviolatethehumanrightsbutaftertheimplementofthispolicy,thepopulationofChinaisundercontrol.Anyway,becauseoftheOneChildPolicy,eachfamilycanonlyhaveonekid.However,thisdoesn'tmeanthesizeofafamilyinChinaissmallerthantheU.S.Whenmostofthecouplegotmarried,theywilllivewiththeirparentsandcontributeincometothehousehold.Sogenerally,thefamilysizeinChinaisabout5,includesfather,mother,onechild,grandparentsfromfather'sside.Thefamilysizewillmostlyremain5unlessthegrandparentsaredeceasedorifthegrandchildgetsmarried.ThereisnotsuchpolicyintheU.S.torestricthowmanykidseachcouplecanhave.ThereforethesizeoffamilyintheU.S.canbevariedbythecouple'sownwill.Generally,eachcouplewillhave2ormorechildren.However,alsobecausetheU.S.isamulti-culturesociety,therearemanydifferentimmigrantsmigratetothisnation,andtheyalsobroughtmanydifferenttraditionstothiscountry.Accordingtoanationalsurvey,non-Latinowhites(alsocalledtheAnglo-Saxoncore)tendtohavefewerdescendantsforeachfamily,andmostofthechildrenarebettereducated.However,Mexican-Americans,AfricanAmericansandRussian-AmericanswillhavemorechildrenineachhouseholdcomparetothewhitesandAsianAmericans.Comparetotheone-child-per-familyinChina,thefamilysizeintheU.S.isalotdifferentthanChina's.Generally,non-Latinowhites,ArabAmericansandAsianAmericans'familysizeintheUnitedStatesareabout5,includingfather,motherand2or3children.However,MexicanAmericans,RussianAmericans,PuertoRicanAmericans,andAfricanAmericanscanhaveafamilysizeofupto10.Interestingly,thefamilyincomeofeachsubpopulationisinverselyproportionaltotheirfamilysize.IntheUnitedStates,non-Latinowhites,ArabAmericansandAsianAmericanstotallyhaveahigherincomethanMexicanAmericansandRussianAmericans.InAmerica,itisalotdifferent.Awomancanmarryamanandcanstilllivewithherparents.However,thissituationisalsonotcommonseenbecausemostofthemarriedcouplewillmoveoutandhavetheirownplaces.Theywillstarttheirownfamily.InAmerica,theparentsareresponsiblefortheirownwellnesswhentheyareold.Itisnottheirchildren'sresponsibilitytotakecareofthem.Thereforethefamilyincomeofahousedependsontheparents,evenwhenthechildrengrewupandhavetheabilitytomakemoney.Iftheparentsarepoor,thechildrenwillbepoorwhentheystilldependontheirparents;ifthechildrenarerich,theparentscanstillbepoorifthechildrenarenotkindtotheirparents.There'snosuchtraditionthatgrown-upshavetotakecareoftheirparents,andcontributeincometothem.Nevertheless,therelawrestrictionsstatethatwhenchildrenarestillyoung,theirparentshavetotakefullresponsibilityforthemuntiltheyturneighteen.Thoughstereotypicallymanisconsideredheadofafamily,onehastoremindoneselfthatthepatternsofAmericanfamilieshavenowdramaticallychanged.Actually,nowthreeoutofeverytenAmericanhouseholdsareheadedbyawoman.NowmoreAmericanwomenareworkingoutsidethehome.Andhousechoresaresharedbetweenmanandwomanunderthesameroof.Ingeneral,womenhavethesameeducationalandwomanunderthesameroof.Ingeneral,womenhavethesameeducationalandemploymentopportunitiesasmen.Theyholdimportantpositionsincompaniesandotherinstitutions.However,Americanwomenstillstrivetoprotecttheirrightsandtoachieveequalrepresentationofmenandwomeninhigh-levelpositions.TheComparisonoftheRelationshipofFamilyMemberInChina,thefamilyrelationshipissomewhatcomplicatedthaninU.S.Becausewhenthegirlsgetmarried,theywillmovetotheirhusbands'house,andbecausetheirhusbandsarelivingwiththeirparents,thereforethegirlsalsoneedtolivewiththem.Oncethegirlsgavebirth,thefamilysizewillmostlyremain5—twograndparents,parents,andonechild.InChina,therearealwaysconflictsbetweenthegirlandhermother-in-law.Whenthegirlgetsmarried,shemovesoutandliveswithherparents-in-law.Beforeshegotmarried,shedoesn'tevenknowhermother-in-law,andhermother-in-lawalsodoesn'tknowher.Whentwostrangerlivetogether,conflictsarose.TherearemanymoviesandTVshowsthatdescribetherelationshipbetweenthemotherandthedaughter-in-law.IncontrasttoChina,thefamilyrelationshipintheU.S.isalotsimpler.Becausethemarriedcoupledoesn'thavetolivewiththeirparents,theconflictsbetweendaughterandmother-in-lawareveryslight.IntheU.S.,whenthesongetsmarried,hewillmoveoutfromhisparents'houseandlivewithhiswifeinanotherplace.Ingenerally,theywillvisittheirownparentsonceinawhileandmanyduringbigeventsuchasChristmasandThanksgiving,theywillgathertogethertohaveadinner.That'stheAmericanstyle.Becausethedaughterandmother-in-lawcanbarelyseeeachotherduringtheyear,whentheygatheraround,theytendtobenicetoeachotherandtrynottoincreasetheconflicts.ThesystemoffamilyintheUnitedStatesisnotascomplicatedasthesystemoffamilyinChina.IfwehavetospecifytheconflictsoffamilyintheU.S.,itwouldbebetweenhusbandandwifeorparentsandchildren.TheComparisonofFamilyFunctionInChina,thereare5familyfunctions:economical,generational,educational,bring-upandsupport'sfunction.Themodernsocietytertiaryindustry'sdevelopmentandthesocializationofproductiondegree'senhancement,thefamilypartialfunctionshastheoffset,likeintheeconomicalfunction'sproductionfunction,theeducationfunction,supportedthefunctionalreadypartiallytoshiftthesociety,bysociety'sspecialorganizationlikeProductionorganization,schoolandoldfolkshomeundertook,butthefamilysentimentcarelesscouldandsoonactuallydaybydaystrengthen.InAmerican,Thefamilyfunctionofthehouseholdmainlyseekseachkindofentertainmentintheculturallife,butisnotareligionandtheeducationalinstitution.Moreimportantly,althoughitisstillaDwellingunit,butnolongerisentirefamilyrevolvesthefamilytypewhichtogetherthefathertransfers.Theconstructionfamily'sfoundationistheunityandfamilymember'scommoninterest,butnon-individualwishandcommunityresponsibility.TheAmericanfamilymember'sprimaryobligationisnoturgesthefamilytobecomeasocietyortheEconomicorganization,isalsonotbringstheglorytothefamily.TheComparisonofChildren'sEducationTheComparisonoftheConceptofChildren'sEducationInChina,becauseoftheancienttradition,there'sanoldsayingabouthowchildrenshouldtreattheirparents.Itsays,“Amongallthegooddeeds,filialpietycomesfirst.”Itmeans,whateverthekidsdo,theyhavetobeniceandrespecttotheirownparents.HoweverintheU.S.,there'snotsuchtradition.Sometimesconflictsarosebetweenteenagerandtheirparents.Thechildrendon'trespecttheirparentswhentheywereyoung.TherearealwaysproblemsaboutteenagersinthesocietyofU.S.InChina,becauseofthe5000yearsofhistoryandtradition,Chineseparentstendtoteachtheirkidsaboutsocialeducationandhenceignorethechildhoodeducation.Theparentsteachtheirkidshowtorespecttheelderly,howtocaretheweakandtheyoung,howtolistentotheteachers,howtoobeylawsandordersfromotherpeople.Therefore,mostoftheparentsdemandunquestioningobediencefromtheirkids.Inafamily,mostofthefathersplaytheroleofcommander,andmotheralwaysplaytheroleofcounselor.IntheUnitedStates,thefamilytreatstheirchildrendifferentlythantheChineseparents.Theyaremoreemphasizingonindividualitythansocialeducation.Iffamiliesaretoworkwithschoolsaspartnersintheeducationoftheirchildren,schoolsmustprovidethemwiththeopportunitiesandsupporttheyneedtobecomeinvolved.Toooftenschoolsexpectfamiliestodoitallalone.Developingeffectivepartnershipswithfamiliesrequiresthatallschoolstaff(administrators,teachers,andsupportstaff)createaschoolenvironmentthatwelcomesparentsandencouragesthemtoraisequestionsandvoicetheirconcernsaswellastoparticipateappropriatelyindecisionmaking.Developingpartnershipsalsorequiresthatschoolstaffprovideparentswiththeinformationandtrainingtheyneedtobecomeinvolvedandthattheyreachouttoparentswithinvitationstoparticipateintheirchildren'slearning.Schoolsaremostsuccessfulinengagingparentsandotherfamilymembersinsupportoftheirchildren'slearninglookbeyondtraditionaldefinitionsofparent・p ・・・・ T ・・ ・・ Tinvolvement--participatinginaparentteacherorganizationorsigningquarterlyreportcards--toabroaderconceptionofparentsasfullpartnersintheeducationoftheirchildren.Ratherthanstrivingonlytoincreaseparentparticipationinschool-basedactivities,successfulschoolsseektosupportfamiliesintheiractivitiesoutsideofschoolthatcanencouragetheirchildren'slearning.Schoolsthathavedevelopedsuccessfulpartnershipswithparentsviewstudentachievementasasharedresponsibility,andallstakeholders--includingparents,administrators,teachers,andcommunityleaders--playimportantrolesinsupportingchildren'slearning.Successfulschool-familypartnershipsrequirethesustainedmutualcollaboration,support,andparticipationofschoolstaffsandfamiliesathomeandatschoolinactivitiesthatcandirectlyaffectthesuccessofchildren'slearning.Iffamiliesaretoworkwithschoolsasfullpartnersintheeducationoftheirchildren,schoolsmustprovidethemwiththeopportunitiesandsupporttheyneedforsuccess.TheComparisonoftheMethodsofChildren'sEducationTheChineseaspectmanifestsapproximatelyinthefollowingseveralpoints:First,theChineseguardiansundertaketodosomebodyelse'sjobinthelifetochild'sbasicnecessitiesoflife,doesnotletthechilddothehousework.Thiskindtakescareofeverythingcrosswiseinvolveschild'saspects,longitudinalextendstothechildgrowsup.Thereforepresentedtheelementarystudentalsotowanttheguardiantosendandpickup,themiddle-schoolstudentalsowantedtheguardiantodolaundry,theuniversitynewbornmatriculationalsowantedtheguardiantoescort.Second,manyguardiansfearedthatthechildsuffersalossorfailstostudy,thereforelimitsthechildandtheoutsidecontact,oncebetweenthechildandthechildeitherschoolmatehavethedisputeornotthehappymatter,themostguardiansadoptshieldoneselfchildtoaccuseotherchild'smeans.Third,manyguardiansareobedienttochild'srequest,granteveryrequest,includingtheeconomicalfamilyinstraitenedcircumstances,theguardianmusttightenthebelttosavethemoneytomeetchild'sneed,thishasencouragedthecustomwhichimperceptiblytheywasteluxuriously.Forth,theguardianisveryhightochild'sstudyrequest,evenachievesonekindofharshdegree.Throughtheages,hastheshoppingonlinedeepshacklesChinaguardians'thoughtthatwhetherbeencausingtheguardianswithtobeadmittedtoaschoolchild'sacademicrecordtheinstituteofhighereducationhasregardedastheonlystandardwhichthechildbecomesausefuladult.ButtheAmericanguardiansfromexercisethechildindependentviabilityangleembarking,adoptstochild'seducationdrops,butthelaissezfairemethoddoesnotcarryon.So-calleddrops,islivesdownfromthechild,theparentstrytogivethemtheself-exercisetheopportunityandthecondition,letsthemobtainthefullexerciseineachkindofenvironment.Theparentsexceptlookafterchild'ssafety,inotherlife'smatter,likeplays,thestudytoletthechildchooseindependently.Ifletthemhavesincechildhooddepositsindividualclothes,thetoyandthestudymaterialsplace,oneselftidyupreorganizestheroom,thearrangementbelongstotheirlittleworld,theparentstakescareofeverythinginnowayforthechild,remindstheadviceatmostintheoneside.So-callednotlaissezfaire,generallyreflectioninthreeaspects:First,ratherpainstakinglyandisnottender.Theguardianpaysgreatattentiontotrainthechildspeciallytoendurehardshipthespirit.Second,thefamilyisrich,butisnotextravagant.ManyAmericanfamily,havethestrictrequestandthestipulationtochild'sspendingmoney.Thebasicprincipleis:Issuesregularly,amounthowmanydecidesaccordingtochild'sageandhouseholdincome'sactualsituation.Third,Thewesternerdoesnotletmattersdrifttochild'sshortcomingmistake,doesnotshield,buttriestoteachthechildtheknowledgewrongtochangewrong.Inaddition,theAmericanguardiansdonotbringtoomanypressuresmostlytochild'sstudy.Theirviewpointis:Thechildtowillbeinterestedtheknowledgetogotostudydiligentlynaturally,whycanforcethematterwhichtheywilldooriginallyarenotwillingtodo?Strongisstubbornisdoing,insteadwillinjurethechildthesentimentandtheindividuality.Human'sinterest,thehobbyandcanoriginallyvarious,thechildsuitabletomakeanythingtomakeanything,thelifepathmustletchildgo.Thesuccesshomeeducation,shouldbetheguardianputsoutthetimetocarryonthecommunication,theexchangewiththechildbytheequalmanner,givesthefullaffirmationtothechildcorrectideaandthebehavior,letsthechildrespectandencouragetohitgrows.TheComparisonofOldFolks'SupportTheComparisonoftheConceptofOldFolks'SupportItusedtolooktotheelderlyasreallywisepeoplewhoknewsomuchabouttheworld.Theyweretheoneswhocouldbereliedupontoprovideahistorylessonofwhatlifeusedtobelikein"theirday".Butthingshavechangedsomuchinjustaveryshortspaceoftime.Wearenowmorelikelytohearofelderabusewithinthefamily,residentialhomeoramuggingthattookplace,involvinganelderlyvictim.Itissadtoseetheelderlybeingabusedanddisregardedsomuchinasocietythattheyoncecontributedsomuchto.Thisarticlewilloffersomesuggestionsonwaysinwhichyoushouldtreattheelderly.Thepopulationoftheelderly(60orolder)inChinaisabout128millionoroneineverytenpeople,thelargestintheworld.ItisestimatedthatChinacouldhavesome400millionpeopleover60yearsofageby2050.Nowadaysalotofpeoplearemoreawareofthenations'oldandppaeyogprleeaterrespectandmoreattentiontothemthanbefore.Butexpertsonagepointoutthattheelderlywouldenjoygreaterhappinessinoldageifeveryonewasmoreconcernedaboutthem.Chinahasjustcompletedaninvestigationonthestatusofitselderlypopulation.Investigating20provinces,autonomousregionsandmunicipalities,theresearchhasshowedthatthecultureandmateriallivesoftheelderly,alloverChina,havegreatlyimproved.Takingalookattheirmateriallives,theaverageincomeoftheelderlyinthecitiesin2000wasfourtimeshigherthantheaverageincomein1992.Inruralareas,theaverageincomein2000hadincreasedby170percentcomparedwith1992.Theirlivingfacilitiesincludedtapwater,TV,fansandwashingmachines.However,gassupply,telephones,fridgesandtoiletsinthehousewereonlyaddedin2000.Theculturalqualityoftheelderlyhasalsoimproved.Illiteracyhasdecreasedby20percentandvariousrecreationalandsportingactivitiespromotedbythegovernmentandnon-governmentalorganizationshaveimprovedthequalityoftheirlives.Moreandmoreoftheelderlycometotherecreationroomsforretiredcadresintheirlocalcommunitynow.Somehaveevenbeenknowntolearnhowtouseacomputer.Accordingtotheinvestigation,mostoftheseniorcitizenssaythattheyaresatisfiedwiththeirlives.DifferentfromChina'stradition,theUnitedStateshaveanotherviewfortheelderly.Thewesternculturetendstoviewtheelderlyasaburdenandaninconvenience!ThefamilyunitingeneralisnotassolidasChineseculture.Thestrongstreakofindependencethatrunsthroughtheirthinkingisdefinitelyaninfluencingfactor.Theytendtoencouragethebreakupofthefamilyaspartofthenaturalcourseoflife,whereastheChinesewilltendtoworktokeepittogetheraslongaspossible.Wheretheywillbemorelikelytobundletheirelderlyofftoresthomesandretirementvillages,wetheChinesewouldlivewithourelderlyunderthesameroof,sometimesthreeorevenfourgenerationslivetogether.IntheWesterner'smind,theythinkit'sbettertosendofftheelderlytoretirementhomesthantoleavethemathomeallbythemselves.Intheretirementhomestheyremainhealthier,happierandtheylivelonger.Atthetouchofabuzzer,medicalhelpisthereinoneminute.Inthemorningtheyhaveabath,breakfast,theirtherapististheretoseethem,latertheycongregatetolookatTVwithfriends.L