Comparison between ancient Egyptian and Papua New Guinea Families
| Criteria | Egyptian Family | Papua New Guinea Family |
|---|---|---|
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| Family Role in society | - The nuclear family was the fundamental social unit of Egypt, in many ways people today share similar values and life ways
- Even the gods were divided to nuclear families, every god had a consort and children. Cities had their sacred triads consisting of a god father, mother and child - Family ties were extremely important, and lineage was traced through both the mother's and father's lines - Family property and inheritance was regulated by strict codes | - The extended family is the basis of support for most people
- Traditionally, married men lived in separate houses from their wives. All men and women in a tribe shared two community huts, children lived in the women hut. - Most land is vested in kin groups and allocated according to need. Individual land ownership is not common |
| Fathers | - The father was responsible for the economic well-being of the family
- Monogamy was the general custom of the family structure in Egypt, with the exception of the Pharaoh, who married many times to ensure a heir to the throne. | - Both men and women may work outside the home, to provide for food.
- Men hunted together in groups, to provide food for the entire village |
| Wives | - Individual Role - The mother supervised the household and cared for the upbringing of her own children, she had little role in the community life
- Women performed their household tasks mainly inside their homes, occasionally leaving ther houses | - Group work - Women worked together for the welfare of the community, they prepared food for the whole tribe together and
participated together in the care for the extended family children
- Women worked outside and cared for the domestic pigs and gardens, belonging to the tribe |
| children | - children were closely attached to their genetic parents for lifetime
- Respect for one's parents was a cornerstone of morality, the most fundamental duty of the eldest son was to care for his parents in their last days and to ensure that they received a proper burial. - children were instructed by society to repay the devotion of their parents and care for them in their old age. | - Loose connection with genetic parent - A child often refers to having more than one mother and father and numerous siblings who, in other societies, would be called aunts, uncles, and cousins
- Parents who are infertile or who lost a child are often compensated with an infant child by their relatives |