American success in the post-World War II era came at a price. Many Americans have fallen deeply into debt and lost contact with their families due to their inattention to the importance of family. An unhealthy focus on material wealth and possessions has replaced the traditional importance of family. The Chinese have been successful more recently; however, they have not let material possessions influence family life as much as Americans have. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay In China, Confucianism and Communism substantially influence society and family. According to Sri Swami Sivananda, a respected Indian teacher noted that Confucianism has influenced all major Chinese religions, teaches dignity, nobility and humility, and also despises pride, arrogance, dishonesty and the expectation of rewards in the essay " Confucianism,” which was later published in the journal Chinese American Forum. Most Chinese consider these traits important to Chinese society. A humble person will not pay much attention to material things. Also, humble people don't forget where they come from, which means someone should take time to respect family and spend time with relatives. In the mid-1900s the Chinese government became communist. The Chinese government had total control over the economy and society and regulated the food supply, which led to food shortages (LaFleur, Palmer, Rapp, Robson, and Hamlish 89-93). The little, if any, economic freedom that the average Chinese had at that time must have conditioned them to save food and money to get through the difficult times. Subsequently, the Chinese government opened the doors to the free market economy. Today, China is the world's largest exporter and producer and, for the most part, has a free market economy (LaFleur, Palmer, Rapp, Robson, and Hamlish 104-114). Factories produce goods and employ many workers, regardless of their location in the world. New jobs of any kind can bring new wealth to people who can then spend it. A growing number of Chinese are also earning money by doing professional jobs in the tech sector. The Chinese government has used incentives to bring professionals back to its tech sector. As a result, China's information technology sector grew rapidly and gained value in the 1990s. The new growth also created new jobs (Luh 87-88). Over the past sixty years, communism and a free market economy have influenced the Chinese; however, most still maintain their Confucian principles. America went through great changes during the early and mid-20th century. The first occurred during the Great Depression, during which a large percentage of Americans found themselves unemployed. The Great Depression began in 1929 and lasted with varying degrees of severity until World War II. During the Great Depression, many families struggled to afford essentials such as food, shelter, and clothing. During this era, Wilbur Anderson, a distinguished World War II veteran and father of three, said in an interview that he could only afford to eat one raw tomato for lunch when he was hired to pick tomatoes on a farm for the day. Wilbur must have considered it a luxury to eat a sandwich for lunch. Today, sandwiches are taken for granted, as are many other foods that would have been highly prized during the Depression. In 1941, America entered World War II and manyAmericans took part in the war effort. In the interview, Anderson also stated that before the war he did not own a car, but after the war he purchased one. When the war ended, returning soldiers and their families purchased new consumer goods for the first time in four years. Factories suddenly began producing consumer goods instead of planes and tanks. Soldiers and their families revived economic activity by spending money they had saved during the war (Schneider and Schneider 312). Since the end of World War II, Americans have continued to spend more and more on consumer goods. Veteran journalist Louis Uchitelle reported in the 2004 New York Times article "We Pledge Allegiance to the Mall" that American consumers now spend more than they did after World War II. By spending more, consumers increase the profits of manufacturers who drive advertising campaigns that put more pressure on consumers. This cycle has proven effective in influencing American consumers, even today. Overall, Americans have moved from absolute poverty to comfortable living over the past eighty years. Changes in the American and Chinese economies have led to an increase in the consumption power of the middle class. Families in both countries have adapted to the economy, whatever the situation. By adapting, families have shifted from their original structures and dynamics. Consumerism has caused more changes in American families than in Chinese families due to reckless spending, setting material goals, and the commercialization of vacations. Reckless spending brings down American families, while Chinese families spend smart and have family problems. Financial negligence drives American families away, while frugal and less extravagant spending keeps Chinese families stable. Buying things on impulse without considering the consequences shows a lack of respect for your financial security. Of course, this type of expense could easily lead to financial problems for a family. Financial problems can cause stress for anyone, which can cause them to express anger towards family or worse. The Jet magazine article “Why Money Is the Leading Cause of Divorce” cites the results of a Citibank survey reporting that financial problems cause 57% of American divorces. The enormous consequences of financial negligence become apparent and cause so many marriages and families to split. World War II veteran Wilbur Anderson said in an interview that some of his friends overspent in the 1950s and 1960s with credit cards that had recently become available. Anderson then went on to say that he always paid in cash. Unlike his friends, Wilbur had no financial problems, confirming the importance of paying in cash. As generations came after Anderson, reckless spending became a bigger problem. In the article “Confessions of a Compulsive Shopper,” Joan Caplin, a distinguished columnist for Money magazine, stated that “compulsive shopping affects up to 8% of the US population, and 90% of these shopaholics are women.” 8% of people suffering from compulsive shopping means that in a group of twenty-five people; two people would recognize a compulsive shopper. In the same article, Caplin later states that compulsive buyers spend time alone and lose contact with their families. Shopping this way demonstrates financial and familial negligence. You can easily see how money-related divorces are becoming increasingly common in the United Statespeople make purchases with little regard for the consequences. In most cases, Chinese families spend money carefully. Xu Hong, a member of China's middle class, said from experience she doesn't buy items at full price in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek China bureau chief and journalist Dexter Roberts. The statement demonstrates the importance of frugality to China's middle class. class because it comes from an average middle class Chinese woman. Roberts also reported that approximately forty percent of the average Chinese income goes into savings. By saving a lot of money, members of China's middle class create a safety net to lean on in difficult times. The habit came in handy during the food shortages and economic turmoil that came with communism. In any situation, having savings gives someone peace of mind and can ease their worries. Established journalists Isaac Fish and Alexandra Seno reported in their Newsweek article "Chinese Women Go Shopping" that Chinese women prefer small, simple and inexpensive rings. Unlike some American women who shop excessively, Chinese women prefer to remain frugal when purchasing luxury items. The growing prevalence of financial negligence causes resentment within American families while the old technique of smart shopping and saving creates stability and little change within the Chinese family. Overspending on children creates more problems for American families. In America, many different types of products cater to the youth market. Anyone can walk into a store and see numerous aisles of products aimed at children such as toys, games and clothing. "People used to buy things when they needed them; now they buy things when they want them or want their children to have them" (Dalton 95). The quote shows the change in American ideas of what does and does not constitute necessity. American parents seem to have a need to improve their children's lives through the purchase of material things. In addition to buying things because they want their children to have them, parents also buy things because their children want to have them. In a national survey of parents. Opinions on spoiled children, Leisha Young, a Las Vegas mother, told Parenting magazine, "I often buy things to keep them busy so I can have some me time." social interaction and cause them future social problems. Children can also live with their parents longer if their parents support them and do not teach them how to support their spouse from living with their parents. Parents may resent their children for taking advantage of their support. When American families buy excessively for their children, family life changes and negative effects result. American families have changed most because of their new focus on acquiring material goods rather than maintaining traditions and helping each other. Many American families are divided because setting material goals pushes parents to work harder, while traditional values ​​keep Chinese families together. Parents spend more time working to buy things, which leads them to neglect their marriage and children (Dalton 96). Many parents fall into the trap of consumerism and work to obtain things that will not enhance the true happiness of their family. Both children and marriages require attention; without it they will fall apart. Children of all ages need their parents to help them solve their problems. If a parent is absent, the child is likely to beresent. Some children resent their parents' overwork to the point that they choose a simpler life and profession (Dalton 98). This finding also shows that the consumerist lifestyle can and has changed the views of some people so profoundly that they have chosen to change their lifestyle to differentiate themselves from the previous generation. Wilbur Anderson, a World War II veteran and loving father of three, said in an interview that he didn't go out of his way to buy unnecessary things, meaning he didn't work too hard to buy the latest and greatest product, unlike most Americans today. . In their International Journal of Consumer Studies article "Materialism and Conspicuous Consumption in China: A Cross-Cultural Examination," expert professor Dr. Jeffrey S. Podoshen and his colleagues Lu Li and Junfeng Zhang argue that Chinese children respect their elders because of Confucian values. If Chinese children had such a high opinion of their parents, they would never think of insulting them by condemning their drinking and working habits. Furthermore, the next generation of Chinese will never try to distance themselves from their parents in an attempt to live differently. As a result of this aspect of Chinese culture, the family remains closer together and does not suffer like the American family. With new materialistic habits comes a dramatic change in work habits, which creates problems for American families who do not have the same value system as China's. Traditional Chinese values ​​prevent Chinese families from letting consumerism interfere in life and also influence consumption to help maintain good health. family relationships. Normandy Madden, senior vice president of Advertising Age magazine, said in the article "Reaching China's Youth, A Balancing Act" that despite purchases similar to those of American teenagers, Chinese teenagers continue to maintain traditional family values. Considering the great impact that communism and its loosening have had on Chinese culture, some find it surprising that Chinese people still maintain tradition, also indicating that Confucianism has more influence on family life than any governmental or economic changes. Chinese family elders still help make important purchasing decisions (LaFleur, Palmer, Rapp, Robson, Hamlish 162). Although the way Chinese families consume has changed, they still see the importance of honoring the family and cannot be tricked into buying big ticket items. impulse objects. Family conflict is avoided because the family reaches an agreement before purchasing something expensive, unlike many American families. Spending newfound wealth with traditional values ​​in mind has also helped keep the Chinese family happier. Wu Yan, an employee at a state bank in Beijing, told the leading Economist magazine that "One day, we may buy an apartment for my parents and my husband's parents, with a servant for each elderly couple" in the article " Golden Boys and Girls." China's new middle class shows its respect for the elderly through its purchases. By doing such things for the elderly, China's younger generations ease their burdens and allow them to have more worry-free time to spend with their families. Even with more money to spend, Chinese families stick to tradition and still take time to honor and help their elders. American families change due to the commercialization of holidays while Chinese families keep their holidays more traditional. Holiday marketing induces.