摘要本论文的重点是根据电视剧《绝望的主妇》对美国家庭价值观进行探讨，并以此与中国家庭的价值观进行对比研究。
众所周知，家庭价值观是文化价值体系的核心，是家庭行为的一个重要组成部分。
电视剧《绝望的主妇》是对美国家庭的真实写照。
本文将通过最直观的方式来比较在《绝望主妇》中的美国家庭与中国的家庭，由于历史、社会、地理以及不同的生存和成长的因素，所形成的不一样的价值观。
本文将通过文献综述法总结出文章研究的学术背景，将通过中西方家庭价值观的对比来展现中西方家庭价值观的差异。
本文由六个部分组成，第一部分是对研究背景、研究目的和研究意义的阐述；第二部分是对《绝望的主妇》中的人物和主题的分析；第三部分是对中国和中国家庭价值观的分析；第四部分是对美国和美国家庭价值观的分析；第五部分是对比中国价值观和《绝望的主妇》中的家庭价值观；第六部分是结论。
关键词：家庭价值观；教育；文化；婚姻AbstractThis thesis is mainly to discuss American family values in the television series Desperate Housewives, and makes a comparative study with the value of Chinese family. As everyone knows, family values are the core value system of culture, which is an important part of the behavior in family. The TV drama Desperate Housewives is a true portrayal of the American family. This thesis will compare American family in Desperate Housewives and the Chinese family in the most direct way, and in the conclusion, the thesis finds out that the different value between Chinese and American family can be due to those historical, social, geographical and different survival and growth factors.Literature review in this thesis provides a clue for the author to carry out this study and it creates an academic background. A major method used in this thesis is the comparative method by which the author compares Chinese with American Family Values. Through the comparative study, the thesis can reveal some differences in Family Values between Chinese and American family.There are six parts in this thesis. In the first part, the background, purpose and significance of the thesis will be introduced. In the second part, the characters and theme of Desperate Housewives will be introduced. In the third part, Chinese family and family values will be analyzed. In the fourth part, American family and family values will be analyzed. In the fifth part, the comparison of family values between Chinese and Americans in Desperate Housewives will be carried. The last part is the conclusion of this thesis.Keywords：family values; education; culture; marriageTable of ContentsOutline (2)Introduction (4)Chapter I The Brief Descreption of the Characters in Desperate Housewives (7)Chapter II Chinese Family and Family Values (9)2.1 Chinese Families ............................................................................................. .92.2 Chinese Family Values (10)Chapter III American Family and Family Values (12)3.1 American Families (12)3.2 American Families Values (13)Chapter IV Comparison of Family Values between Chinese and Americans (15)4.1 Values Different in Marriage (15)4.1.1 Chinese Marriage View (16)4.1.2 American Marriage View (16)4.2 Values Different in Education (18)4.3 Values Different in the Relationship between Parents and Children (20)Conclusion (22)Bibliography (23)Acknowledgements (25)OutlineThesis Statement: When we communicate with foreigners, the most obvious obstacle may be the difference between us and them of values to the world, family and life. That is born with different culture and it is impossible to overcome. So it is indispensable to understand the main value of them when we communicate with them. This thesis analyzes the differences on family value between Chinese women and American women in order to make some contribution to the cultural difference on family value.I. Introduction: We can learn the background of Desperate Housewives so that we can getthe main idea of western family values.A. We should taste the family values through the TV drama to construct the foundation of the thesis.B. After the practice of analyzing the character and relationship of Desperate Housewives, we can get to know the family values of Americans.II. In order to improve the skills that we use to communicate with foreigners, we should understand their family values. We need to talk about our homeland, China. It can be divided into two parts.A.First of all, we will talk about Chinese families. Chinese families pay more attentionto the collective self (family) on the basis of individual and the interests of the wholefamily.B.Secondly, we will talk about Chinese families‘values. It also appeared a morestressed closer family obligations, intergenerational relations trend.III. In order to make the comparison, now we will talk about America, it can also be divided into two parts.A. First of all, we will talk about American families.B. Secondly, we will talk about American families‘ values.IV. We will make the comparison of Family Values between Chinese and Americans in this part.A．We will talk about the marriage values between two sides.1.The marriage values of Chinese.2. The marriage values of American.B. The different values of education on both sides.C．We will discuss values different in the relationship between parents and children in this part. We can notice that Chinese children are more about being ordered bytheir parents but as for American children being like the friend-relationship.V. Conclusion: we can get a whole comprehension of the western and eastern family values through Desperate Housewives. From the discussion we can find that it is found that Chinese families pursue the harmony between family members. But American families have a belief that "Every man for himself, and God for us all".IntroductionThe most obvious difficulty when it comes to us is that different values. Family values is a indispensable part when we get along with them. From 2005, Desperate Housewives has become a TV show in hot pursuit of the hit TV series every year, which mainly tells how to maintain and sublime the friendship among four housewives in the trivial and major events of life, and how they become stronger in the ups and downs. Although it is a soap opera plot and something in it is fiction, the values and world outlook of the characters reflect the status of the contemporary USA women to a large extent. From these housewives, we can see there are certain similarities between Chinese women and American women, but the thoughts, idea, belief and so on also have great differences.This paper selects a new point of view to compare American families in Desperate Housewives with Chinese families in family values, which were analyzed and compared comprehensively, and form a wide coverage and a new research angle.‖ A certain space exists in the academic value and the development of this study.Desperate Housewives is a TV play launched by American Broadcasting Company. Since the launch, Desperate Housewives is definitely a rare screen works to thousands of thousands of viewers, compact plot, gripping suspense, exquisite scene props and first-rate acting made the play have a strong appeal, resulting in the play the ball in more than 130 countries and regions, which become a ratings winner in Australia, Britain and Singapore.Desperate Housewives has created a myth in American TV screens. Light and shade staggered Wisteria town for years, with the things changed, the housewives appearance haschanged dim from glowing with health on their face, but the whole drama has been presented the emotional story of marriage and family that in the further away but can not give up , at the same time, It also appear warm among the people.―Desperate Housewives is to reveal a fully and delightfully screen display of a realistic suburban middle-class life (李朝阳13)‖. The article reveals a kind of trivial and dark life that makes people broken-hearted by ironic expression from the angle of a dead housewife Marie. Perhaps, the black comedy is from the despair in the deep heart of contemporary people for life in the society, In fact, everyone has the bitterness and happiness, while we always blame everyone and everything, and think that others is joyful than ourselves, but did not think about how to make yourself happier tomorrow. The writer reveals the profound truth through the story of the characters in Desperate Housewives that people should take a positive attitude to face life and create a happier future life for ourselves.Desperate Housewives is so successful because the dark base that is attributed in part to screenwriter adjustable -- natural mode, which can break a light tone, then deep into the agency deep life.―Some people choose to be single in order to avoid trouble. Susan's mother and the real estate broker Addie are on behalf of the two kinds of housewives who are not in the aspiration for marriage‖(Houlgate 339). But there are more people still eager to love and believe in marriage, however, the real life often make people suffocated. Desperate Housewives amplifies this unfortunate aspects in the life, for example, the perfect woman is unable to create a perfect life, instead that her husband and children left from her, and a beautifulwoman married with a millionaire without avoiding emptiness, and women with the perfect family turned to be a single mother because she was abandoned by her husband over 30 years. These unfortunate stories were very depressed, but Desperate Housewives adhere to use the American humor method to dilute the plot, which brings the audience to an unforgettable depression, and enable the audience to think about these problems in a relaxed humor, so the play can meet the audience's sympathy and be accepted by them.Of course, if the Desperate Housewives shows only the endless troubles and dark, it is difficult to become a masterpiece. Surprisingly, the purpose of this play is to make a kind of hope in the desperate life of the housewives. The biggest bright of Desperate Housewives is the theme of hope and tolerance. Because both how tangled the plot structure , no matter how thrilling suspense, and Desperate Housewives will let you know that the conflict will ultimately have to compromise and harmony, selfish and mean idea finally will be get the correction of the conscience.Chapter I The brief Descreption of the Charactersin Desperate HousewivesNow, we will discuss the main relationship of Desperate Housewives. Susan Mayer—Susan is a divorced single mother who lives with her daughter Julie Mayer. She is a little bit silly but very Kind and sensibility. And she is committed to looking for loyalty and long lasting love. When she met Mike, a new plumber of Wisteria Lane, She thought that Cupid's arrow finally shot to her. After many twists and turns, she and Mike got married and gave birth to a son.Lynette Scavo—Lynette used to be a successful career woman. But now Four Naughty to tiresome children occupies her life. Moreover, Lynette sadly found that although she is Invincible in work, she could not get along well with the neighbors in the community. Then she get back to work, Leaves the housework to her husband, and cause the contradiction between husband and her. After adjustment they were able to put aside their differences and restore their relationship.Bree Van De Kamp—Bree tries to rule her family as a dictator rules a nation. From the garden to her husband all is under her control. Through Bree was shocked to found that her husband having an affair. Her reign of this family began to fall apart. Family chemist George who has psychological disease in order to get Bree love, he set Bree's husband Rex up and Led to his death. Bree‘s son Andrew foun d that his father's death was relevant to his mother and George, then cause Andrew‘s psychological distortion happens, and became a gay man.The youngest housewife—Gabrielle Solis, Gabrielle is young and beautiful. She married a wealthy man and lives in Luxurious house. All of these are enviable. However, these are unable to fill with her spiritual emptiness. She is interested in a 17 year old gardener, and having sex with him, and finally discovered by her husband Carlos. Then Carlos went bankrupt and blind. Gabrielle's life has undergone radical changes and become a living toiling housewife.Edie Britt—Edie are always seducing man. Firstly she hook-up with Susan's ex-husband. When she saw Susan dating with Mike, She seduced Mike. Edie are always proud of having gossip with men.There are five characters in the TV play, and they are five different kinds of housewife. They are the perfect housewife Bree who can be classified into the kind of Chinese housewife, the superman housewife Lynette who is regret for asking her husband to seek for high social status, the Single housewife Susan who keeps on carving love, the beautiful housewife Gabby who is a empty woman in the beautiful appearance, the coquettish housewife Edie who is view seducing men as interest.The four characters are neighbors. Every housewife considers things from their own interests. So they are often involved in conflicts from which a story will happen around a certain theme. And the next sector will make a detailed introduction of the theme for this play.Chapter II Chinese Family and Family Values2.1 Chinese FamiliesFirstly, from the view of the family structure, more and more Chinese families have only one child. Chinese family systems tend to be simpler, and the relations faced by family members are relatively simple. With the development of contemporary Chinese society, family structure and relationship is gradually changing, the traditional family extended into the core family. The one-child families are the smallest core family in our country, which is the typical family structure.On the relationship between family members, this model has the characteristics that it is simple. From the angle of family communication pattern, the differences between social culture and the values of the East and West results in the differences in family. In Chinese family, due to the influence of conservative ideas, most of the children do not discuss about sex with their parents. And the sex is considered a taboo topic. But, even if there is no communication, we can also send a very clear message.From the view of the family, Chinese families attach great importance to their children's education, and there is the larger investment and expectations to cultivate children's intellectual culture. In addition, they pay attention to self-discipline and etiquette, which will treat others like oneself as the basis of morality between person and person, and it makes the family members to get a complete unify of the personality and characters. Therefore, Chinese families pay more attention to the collective self (family) on the basis of individual and the interests of the whole family.2.2 Chinese Family ValuesChinese culture is a typical representative of eastern culture. America is a fusion of western culture, thus these two different cultural entities must embody different core cultural values. Chinese cultural values emphasize collectivism as the core, and personal interests must be subordinated to the interests of the collective. Family values of our current view shows a Chinese traditional "obvious closely intergenerational rel ationship‖ and the "intimate relationship is becoming more and more pure phase mixing trend with the influence of modernity and post modernity.We can explain the Chinese family value from the following three aspects. At first, Chinese people seek for living in harmony. The harmony is the core in the Chinese family value as the society advocate the harmony value in the modern China. From the ancient time to modern time, Chinese people almost think that the harmonious relationship between the wife and the husband, between the parents and children is the key factor for the happiness in the families. Secondly, Chinese families advocate caring for the young, respecting the old, and pursuing a lover for the whole life. So it is very common for people in China to see that the young people let their seats to the old people in the bus, and many people pay more attention to the young children.In modern China, there are some trends in the family value, and it can be explained from the following aspects. On the one hand, with the general improvement in educational degree and of the city, our family values development has revealed obvious characteristics of modernity, that is people put more emphasis on the solution of human nature and the pursuitof realization of self value, and the view of marriage is tend to more independent and individual with an equality and freedom, democracy and modern ideas. The sexual attitudes of the young people is gradual opening, the more consciousness of the value subjectivity on premarital sex make people tolerant on the cohabitation. Compared with other people who born in other period, the later generation‘s attitude on premarital cohabitation and homosexuality is in great acceptance, and the whole society obviously reveals more conservative trend in the concept of marriage.On the other hand, from the view of family values, our country has not reveals the post modern trend of a western style for atomic family with the demise of ties among family members. On the contrary, it also appeared a more stressed closer family obligations, intergenerational relations trend.Chapter III American Family and Family Values3.1 American Families―Family studies of western researchers believe that, with the influence of theguidance for the modern social and cultural values which emphasizedindividual rights, freedom, people take a more tolerant attitude to thoseproblems of divorce, equality and cohabitation. That is not accepted by peopleand the family structure is becoming diversified day by day‖ (Andrew 98).We can see American diversified family at present from Desperate Housewives, American families have more children. The typical representative is the couple Lynette and Thomas Scavo along with their five lively children. American family has more divorced families, families of reorganization and adoptive phenomenon. For example, Susan and Mike Delfino are combined in all the blessings of a new family.―There are obstruction resulted from less communication for brothers andsisters in the family, when they encounter emotional exchange, interaction willbecome more complex. In American families, fathers usually decideeverything‖ (Ahlburg 97).At the same time, the Father is also often the family's main source of income. Most of the power is in the hands of the fathers, they have more autocracy in family decision making. The family communications are very few. Overall, the decision model of America family tends to be more democratic, and the communication pattern is smooth and effective.Desperate Housewives reveals the second theme of an American free emotional balance, which refers to a kind of exaggerated humor mixed by dark and oppressive phenomenon, and it can make people enjoy both mentally and physically point of balance. The play not only tells the change of America middle-class life in times of change and ideology, but also countries to show a genuine American scene of life to others. On one hand, the director use Marie satirical vision to express his resentment and anger to certain aspects for the USA and Americans. on the other hand, using a variety of skills transfer American excellent aspects, such as ridicule each other in despair, the humor unconscious be revealed in the argument which cause people to think of and can make people laugh at the same time. Understanding optimistic to face difficult in life, and selective attention of the sun dilemma in social life, which is the American way of thinking, as the drama transmitted to us, in desperation, there is always hope, and this is not fiction story and selective attention of the housewife, but after the trials of life, they learn to smile and use love to face everything, and they also know what is most important, what really worth their brave.3.2 American Family Values―From America TV show Desperate Housewives, there are more equality, independence and respect, fewer obligations and responsibilities between members of American families‖(王恩铭27).Compared with Chinese families, these two kinds of different value orientation also show the difference between the ideal and reality in TV drama aesthetic style. ―Look at theAmerica concept of marriage and family in the following two aspects. ―In the Desperate Housewives, it take more attention to the individualism, the housewives emphasize individual rights, their attention is the independence and non nepotism‖ (朱永涛205).For example, Susan in order to date with Mike for convenience, tries various devices to make the lover to leave from her, in order to date with John again, when shopping with her Mother-in-law, Gabrielle put the unpaid goods into her handbag to make she was arrested, thus successfully she can get rid of her mother-in-law's monitoring. Susan ask her ex husband to apologize for termination of their marriage, the husband said that he want to conform the heart, and he fell in love with someone else. ―It is visible to see that the individual will meet more than about family and marriage responsibility‖(朱永涛74). Second, in the Desperate Housewives, personal power is more revealed. The rights consciousness in Americans family is very strong. American family rights consciousness refers to each member to themselves as the center rather than to the family as the center. Everyone in the family enjoys inviolability of personal rights in their own things, and other members have no right to interfere. If people in America fall in love, marriage, family, and job, they will make the choice by themselves alone, and others have no right to replace their choices.Chapter IV Comparison of Family Values betweenChinese and Americans4.1 Values Different in Marriage―The relationship between husband and wife is the most close and the mostlong interpersonal relationship, which is the most basic relationship in family.Understanding the fundamental difference between American cultural valuesand Chinese cultural values is very necessary for the understanding of the twodifferent views of marriage‖ (周英莉10).For Chinese marriage view, people tend to ―friendly‖ and they pay compassionate in dealing with sexual relations. When they encountered marital crisis, they will choose to take a tolerant attitude for the other side in order to maintain the whole family, although the crisis also still exist in the marriage. In a word, Chinese families pay more attention to ethics that the complete family is advocated by the society , while for American marriage view, they advocate the extreme individualism, which include the individual rights, freedom, and personal independence, and they emphasize innovation and enterprising. When they encountered marital crisis, they will choose the positive attitude to resolve the crisis, for example, in the Desperate Housewives, when Lynette Scavo who have four children finds that the marriage is tedious, and the marriage faces a crisis form the Ex- girlfriend of her husband, she choose take the positive attitude that using sexy clothes and dressing to enhance the temperament in the marriage in order to resolve the marriage crisis.4.1.1 Chinese marriage viewFor most Chinese couples, marriage is the most important question. With the end of a marriage, both spouses will be hurt greatly. Marriage is not a personal thing and it is entangled with various factors such as morality, responsibility and honor. In the influence of collectivism, Chinese couples will not put personal interests in the most important position, and they focus on their families. The establishment of a harmonious and happy family is the common goal of husband and wife in China. Because of this goal is the most important question in the marriage relationship, and this goal will not be achieved by emphasizing the vital interests of each member of the family, , everyone in the family should be humanized, tolerant and patient.The three values which are of equality, independence and right are throughout the America families. Harmonious and happy feelings of Americans are based on the three values. Americans emphasize the independence and equality among family members, to promote the independence of the individual and all on their own principle, which embodies the great individualism. "Every man for himself, and God for us all" is the American national faith, "individualism" is the starting point of American family values.4.1.2 American Marriage ViewAmerican couple spoke highly of individualism, and they use the rational principle of treatment of family members and family affairs. They respect each other's privacy and they rarely interfere with each other's affairs. Marriage life occupies a large part of their daily life,and both husband and wife focus on each other, but they seldom make blood relations involved. The husband will not be forced to succumb to his wife in the relationship between husband and wife, and he wanted his wife to have the independent personality, at the same time, in order to get his recognition of their independence. In American families, if both the husband and wife lose their individuality, it will mean the loss of their charm, however, emphasis on individuality and independence does not mean lack of emotional exchange between couples. Compared with Chinese couples, America couples pay more attention to the feelings between husband and wife to communicate, and they emphasize the mutual understanding, mutual trust, mutual benefit, which embodied by the chores and children's education problem.In Desperate Housewives, we dig out more of the self as the starting point of the individualism, the housewives emphasizes individual right and the duty, and pay attention to independence. The members in the marriage often take positive measures to deal with the marriage crisis. Although Mary is firmly for a divorce in the discovery of her first husband having an affair, because she still loves her husband, and finally she chooses to conform her real feelings to get together with her husband again, and she fell very happy, then she takes a positive attitude to get the key problem between her and her husband in order to solve the marriage crisis.The Male and female in America marriage plays the role of independent and equal. There are different expectations the roles of men and women in plays of different culture. In Desperate Housewives, as a housewife, they are industrious, delicate, sentimental, and inpursuit of perfection and pleasure. But when they encounter marriage crisis, they not hesitate to show a stronger than men: in the face of regret and derailed husband, Bree changed the past elegant style, rejected him to stop the divorce proceedings cold firmly, and to continue the revenge to the husband, the full-time wife Lynette instead her husband to return the workplace, she feel just like a fish in water, more prosperous. Even knowing Tom's daughter felt in love with Lynette, she still supports and trusts her husband. Gabrielle who can not do nothing past and resolutely refused to mother, after the love affair with young person to fill the empty, experienced a sudden turn for the worse social status to care for the blind husband, and decided to transition to have two daughters housewife image to tide over the difficulties. Therefore, the core of American marriage values is equal gender status. In order to maintain the stability of marriage and happiness, not necessarily a masculine men, women are not necessarily a feminine, and the independent and equal play roles in marriage will make sail voyage.4.2 Values Different in Education―In American dramas, we often see in the morning some children riding a bicycle to send the newspapers, and the car ride very fast, many Americanchildren go to work, such as delivering newspapers, milk, mowing the lawn,cleaning out the garage, in the restaurant playing as the waiter. They are doingso, not because their families are poor, but because they want to earn moremoney and to cultivate the ability through one's own efforts‖ (付晓雪137).。
