Here shown is a Pakistani family. It is often that the women are not photographed in the same photo as the men.
In Pakistan, family is the central social structure in society. Family bonds and family honor are sacred among Pakistanis.
The extended family is the basis of the social structure. It includes the nuclear family, immediate relatives, and distant relatives. It also includes close friends and neighbors.
Loyalty to the family is the outmost important value in Pakistan. Family is also more private in Pakistan then in many other cultures.
The Systems
Within All families there is a patriarchal and hierarchal system which provides each member with a distinct role.
Patriarchal Society: Male Dominated, Head male controls the family’s resources and behavior
Hierarchal society: Assign values to individuals based upon age, sex, income, etc.
Marriage
The preferable marriage would be between first cousins whose fathers were brothers. The reason for this is to ensure that the family is always the number one priority. If they share an extended family, then the chances of this are of highest guarantee. Laws in Pakistan allow people to marry whomever they wish to, though almost all marriages are still arranged by the bride and groom’s family. It is not so much viewed as the union of two people in love, but as an alliance between the two families. Polygamous marriages do still exist in Pakistan, but they have regulations. A man must prove that this type of marriage is a need. The men in Pakistan may also divorce their wife by repeating “I divorce you” three times. The man must then give a written notice to the Union Council. Written notification will be sent to his wife and the divorce will take effect after 90 days. Women may also gain a judicial divorce from husbands. They must have legitimate grounds to do so though, such as imprisonment of husband, impotency, cruelty, or failure to provide marital obligations.
Age
Senior males make the decisions for the group; his spouse has power over daily house held activities.
Older people are viewed as wise and are granted respect. They are served first in social situations. Elders are taken care of by their children and grandchildren.