Family is a very important part of life for Egyptian people and a significant component of Egyptian society. As Egypt is a largely collectivist society, the needs of one’s family or community typically take precedence over one’s personal needs or desires. Kinship plays an important role in social relations, and the general perception is that the individual is subordinate to the family. The family consists of both the nuclear unit and the extended family. Given the emphasis placed on traditional family values such as loyalty to the extended family network, communal living and sharing are widely prevalent in Egyptian culture.
Families tend to be close to one another, both emotionally and physically. It is the norm for Egyptians to live with their extended family and often one will find three generations living together. Moreover, grown-up unmarried children (often the eldest son or daughter) tend to stay with their parents until they marry. On occasion, the son will stay with his parents to fulfil his obligation to care for his parents as they age. Newlywed women tend to leave their parents’ home to live with in-laws. Even when family members don’t live in close proximity, extensive kin ties are maintained through frequent family gatherings.
