Specialists warn against decline of Algerian family values

02/07/2008

Sociologists and officials came together on June 28th-29th to discuss the erosion of traditional Algerian values and its impact on youth and family structures. Widespread social problems like unemployment and the influence of foreign media were identified as causes.

By Said Jameh for Magharebia in Algiers – 02/07/08

[Said Jameh] Deputy Minister for Family and Women's Issues Nouara Djaafar told conference participants last week that Algerian families are focused on securing means of living, at the expense of culture and ethics.

Algerian specialists issued a warning recently against what they call a "growing phenomenon of family disunity" in light of changes witnessed by Algerian society. Social and ethical values are receding, they say, because families are becoming less involved in raising their children.

Experts sounded the alarm after a University of Algiers Centre for Prevention and Ergonomics study was released at last week's conference, "Family and Upbringing: between Communication and Alienation".

The results showed that social and ethical values, previously common among families and society, have receded since the decline of the role played by families in the upbringing and guidance of youths.

According to the study, the most prominent sign of the family's decreased role in children's upbringing is indifference towards social problems such as drugs, theft, and violence in schools and public areas.

This attitude of indifference, "which is foreign to Algerian society", can be attributed to a number of reasons, such as "economic and social pressures weighing down on families", in addition to "the negative direction of certain media that choose to focus on the commercial aspects of social problems, and exaggerate them, instead of seeking to serve the family and promote its unity".

In this context, Hamou Boudrifa, head of the Centre for Prevention and Ergonomics, called on educational institutions, specialised agencies, families and mosques to stand in the face of attitudes foreign to society and diligently seek to restore respect for social and ethical values.

Nouara Djaafar, Deputy Minister for Family and Women's Issues, agreed with the researchers, noting during the conference that "the cause of family disunity and the spread of various negative phenomena can be traced back to the malfunction of the family in society".

"Families nowadays are concerned with securing means of living for their young ones, instead of paying attention to their education," she added, noting the increase in recent years of the number of Algerian mothers who work, leaving their children in day care centres or with relatives. This number has increased from 10% to 17% over the past decade; a change that has, according to the Minister, impacted children's sense of belonging in their families.

"Parents have become withdrawn," she continued. "Cultural and ethical examples are faint. The impact of mass media and modern technologies on families and how they undertake their jobs is substantial."

Sociologists echoed many of these opinions during the conference. Mohamed Boumekhelouf , Professor of sociology at the University of Algiers, said social problems are most to blame for problems in the development of the Algerian family. He added that children in more than 15% of families do not work, constituting an additional burden.

In their closing statement, conference participants recommended the launch of television networks specialising in family, children and youth affairs, emphasising the role of domestic and regional media, as well as that of mosques and schools.

The latest demographic statistics in Algeria denote that the birth rate has dropped to 1.72%, compared to 2.70% in 1994. Marriage rates also declined from 33.5% for men and 29.9% for women in 1998, reaching 31.3% for men and 27.6% for women, according to the latest stats revealed last June. This decline is attributed to the high cost of living, limited resources and housing problems.