Being the biggest continent in the world, Asia contains about 60% of the worlds population and growing each year. Though China, and India are two of the most populated countries in the world, having about 30% of the worlds population, there are about two-fifths of the countries that have less than five million habitants. Though forty-two different countries make up this great continent, much of the similarities are family values. Customs and traditions might be different, however, western ideas and influences have wiped out many of those customs and created new ones in most of the countries in Asia. Even in comparison from country to country, the new ways and ideas are similar.
The basic Asian family would be the same as in any family in comparison to the rest of the world. Patriarchy families are more popular amongst many Asian families. It is believed that the man is in charge of the house in most if not all the countries in Asia. However, there is some form of equality between men and women in Asia. Some countries have more equal rights than others.
Some countries such as the Middle East countries give very minimal rights to women. Even a great country like the United States doesnt have full equality between men and women. Because of urbanization, western ideas and influences are reaching the average Asians. Asians are moving into cities with phenomenal speed. In an article by Michael Sivy of Time International Magazine, Malaysias Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim states, Today, half of all Malaysians live in cities.
Sivy adds, the result is an irreversible change in the family structure that has prevailed in Asia for thousands of years. The urbanization of these families helped to promote further growth in all aspects. It has converted the extended family into a nuclear one, says Richard Robison, director of the Asia Research Center at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. Because of this new change, people are relying less on the family, which in turn is creating new relationships between old and young and women and men. The change has promoted a lot of social change and economic change in many of these countries, such as Malaysia.
By urbanization, many of these people are being influenced by the modernization and western technological advancements. These influences include democracy, education, communication, economical developments, medical advancements, employment, and individualism. Though individualism is present, family values are treasured. Unity is preserved and family name is heavily cherished.
Asians strongly believe that problems must be kept within the family, and that problems are a blemish upon the family name as quoted by Lien Roberts, a Vietnamese mother. Immigration is also very popular amongst Asians. Many immigrate to democratic places such as the United States, Great Britain, and Canada. Many believe before they emigrate, that their new land will be much better than the one they currently occupy. Just in the Greater Toronto Area, there are about 380,000 Chinese-Canadians as reported by Tony Wong from The Toronto Star. As reported by Mr.
Wong, China is the major source of immigration to Canada. However, China isnt the only place where immigration comes from. Place such as Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and even India, Mauritius, and Jamaica also has emigrants to Canada. Three point four percent of the entire population of the United States is Asian and each year, that number is getting greater and greater. Because the United States gives them a better opportunity for growth, much if the Asias immigration goes here.
After battling racism for about a century, the Asian population in the United States is the fastest growing ethnic group in the country. Today, Asian Americans are the fastest-growing U. S. minority, increasing at fifteen times the rate of non-Hispanic whites, and doubling in just the past ten years. The growth is phenomenal.
Sociologist James M. Henslin states that most of the population is concentrated in major cities such as, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City. However, even though they are in a distant land, they often preserve their customs and traditions while also taking on things from the American Culture. In an article written by Julie Zhou, a Chinese immigrant who is currently a student explains that she is
