NURUL ALYA FATIN BINTI MOHD YUSOF

FIRST DRAFF.

FAMILY STRUCTURE

Family structure is about how to establish a family and a household. In a family, there may contain single parents, both parents, or step parents involved. However, it has many differences and a similarity in family structure from other countries depends on their culture. Therefore, this essay will explain the similarities and differences of family structure between Malaysian and Bhutanese on the type of family, gender roles and roles of adult children.

First of all, Malaysian and Bhutanese have similarity in the type of family, but differ in family size. In Bhutan, there are more than ten members in an extended family, but in Malaysia, if there are less than two children, the parents will request the other family such as
cousin, niece, nephew, and grandparents to live together with them. The number of an extended

family is reducing due to adult children moving. The reason being they are getting married and have good career options. From that, they will migrate there and start their nuclear family. This type of family has occurred mostly in both countries. Nevertheless, the number of nuclear family in Bhutan is about five to six members, but in Malaysia, it is more than five members. In Malaysia, Muslim believes that having more children gives us a form of good luck to the family. In total, the size of a family in Malaysia has a larger number than Bhutans. Secondly, Malaysian and Bhutanese culture possesses similarity in gender roles. Generally, the husband or father is the main breadwinner in the family, while the mother is the primary caregiver. In addition, father has the responsibility to take care of his family. He has the authority to family decisions. Also, both parents take control of their children's daily activities in order to educate them to a decent career in the future. For example, children need to ask a permission to participate in any activity that they want to involve. Apart from that, the other similarities the mother or wife will take care of family finance, because she bought groceries and households, clothe, and give their children pocket money. Furthermore, both parents need to provide everything for children who are still studying in school with important items such as school equipment, the Internet and laptop. For both countries, man is the head of family and main breadwinner, while a woman becomes a primary caregiver. Finally, the differences between both countries tend to be the role of adult children. In Malaysia and Bhutan, adult children have responsibility to take care of their parents when they reach a certain age. From that time, which is about, they take turns to look after their

NURUL ALYA FATIN BINTI MOHD YUSOF

FIRST DRAFF.

FAMILY STRUCTURE

parents. In this case, it happens because when adult children start their career and get married. Furthermore, in Malaysia, the eldest son spontaneously, has the responsibilities to look after the other siblings to support their parent after they have a better career opportunity. For example, he will help his parents via aiding them financially. However, it is a different story in Bhutan. Bhutanese adult children who have a financial stability which is tended to carry responsibilities to support their families. Adult children are extremely important to the family because they would help parents in the future, but there differ way in how and who will take those Responsibilities for both countries.

For conclusion, there are more similarity than differences in family structure between Malaysia and Bhutan. First similarities are the type of family. The most common
types of family in these both countries is nuclear family. The next similarities are in term of

gender roles which is the man is the head of family while woman in a family is a primary caregiver. However there is some differences in the roles of adult children. In Malaysia, for Malay culture, son is very important in a family because they support family in financial way while Bhutan is totally the opposite. Hence Malaysian families are more culturally structured.