Family
Brazil is defintiely a collectivistic culture. Family is extremely important to Brazilians. This is very much reflected in their living arrangements. Children often live with their parents until they get married, and then do not move that far away. Not only is there frequent contact with parents and siblings, but also with more extended family members like aunts, uncles and cousins (Margolis, Bezerra and Fox, 2001). According to Margolis, et al., (2001), families form a strong network that provides support during times of need or crisis. Some suspect that other civic and social groups have failed to take hold due to the strength of the family network in Brazil.
Claudia Costabile (personal communication, October 27, 2012) echoes this portrayal of the importance of family in Brazil. Costabile describes that she grew up in her grandparents' house, one aunt is a neighbor, and another aunt lives in a house built on the property of her of house. Other relatives live close by within two miles of her house. The idea of children leaving the parental home is quite unusual in Brazil. Although she and her husband left Brazil for the United States to pursue better career options, this is one aspect of Brazilian life that Costabile truly misses. She notes that she talks to her mother at least once a week, and she and her husband return to visit family in Brazil yearly. She describes that it is hard to relate to the American mindset of pushing children "out of the nest" to college, and to live on their own. Charging rent to adult children who return to the nest is unfathomable to her, and she notes this would never happen in Brazil. Families belong together and being together is a happy state for Brazilians.
Claudia Costabile (personal communication, October 27, 2012) echoes this portrayal of the importance of family in Brazil. Costabile describes that she grew up in her grandparents' house, one aunt is a neighbor, and another aunt lives in a house built on the property of her of house. Other relatives live close by within two miles of her house. The idea of children leaving the parental home is quite unusual in Brazil. Although she and her husband left Brazil for the United States to pursue better career options, this is one aspect of Brazilian life that Costabile truly misses. She notes that she talks to her mother at least once a week, and she and her husband return to visit family in Brazil yearly. She describes that it is hard to relate to the American mindset of pushing children "out of the nest" to college, and to live on their own. Charging rent to adult children who return to the nest is unfathomable to her, and she notes this would never happen in Brazil. Families belong together and being together is a happy state for Brazilians.