Diverse Family Systems Paper Assignment
Ashley Thomas
DBMF610: Marriage and Family Systems: Foundations, Models and
Techniques
May 25, 2025
Compare/Contrast for Two Completely Different Family Systems/Cultures
This paper examines the family system of the Igbo people in Nigeria and the family system of
modern Sweden, focusing on their very different ideas about hierarchy, parenting, marital roles,
and spiritual practices. The Igbo family system has robust, extended kinship ties. Parental roles
within the Igbo family are traditionally very well defined. The system seems to work well, with
steady rates of marriage, low rates of divorce, and a shared, robust family life that seems to
reach across generations. In contrast, parental roles are rather loosely defined in Sweden, and
as much as children are needed to uphold a family at all, the family is viewed as a part of a
shared life into which parents and children must earn their way.
Scriptural Definition of a Family System
Christian family values work on the principles of a divine institution ordained by God. They focus
on a structure that is supposed to ensure that the order and purpose of human relationships
mirror God's order and design. Dobson instructs that parental authority is not just a social
construct but a Godordained duty that ensures parental guidance and discipline. He references
clear biblical teachings such as Ephesians 6:1-4, which instructs children to obey their parents
and exhorts fathers to provide discipline and instruction (in the Lord). Also, Proverbs 22:6
emphasizes the that marks the assurance of parentally protected moral and predominantly
spiritual character development of children, as it declares, "Train up a child in the way he should
go."
At the heart of the Christian family system is the priority of spiritual instruction and
intergenerational unity. The family is the primary environment for cultivating faith; parents hold
the crucial responsibility for teaching, model equable commitment to Christ, and the handoff of
worship and devotion in family traditions.
Nigerian (Igbo) Family System
The traditional family structure of the Igbo is a deeply rooted system that prizes the
predominantly male members of the populace. Beyond the immediate and extended family,
one is part of a still larger quilt—an Igbo community—that is stitched together by a common
culture (which is not just a shared recollection of the past but also a collaborative making of the
present and the future). This culture gives the community members (and by extension their
families) a sense of identity. If asked, any member of the community will readily point out the
shared responsibilities with which they and their family members have been charged.
Parenting and Family Roles
The defined roles of parents in Igbo culture direct and mold children’s behavior. Parents,
especially fathers, exercise power and authority in strong and disciplinary ways. The father is
the supreme authority figure and the family’s primary provider. He ensures that the family is
economically and socially stable. Mothers, though, have a large presence in nurturing and
caregiving and, just like fathers, have a large say in guiding children’s moral development.
Children grow up knowing who to respect. They also grow up figuring what their elders mean
when they say a right thing or when they say a wrong thing.
Swedish Family System
Key aspects of the Swedish family system include strong values of individualism, gender
equality, and shared parenting responsibilities. Unlike more hierarchical family forms, the
Swedish family tends to function with a high degree of egalitarianism, where both partners
contribute equally to household responsibilities and child-rearing.
Cultural and Religious Practices
Family traditions in Sweden tend to be minimalistic and focus on cultural significance rather
than religious observance. Important holidays like Midsummer and Christmas are marked by
family gatherings, feasts, and fun activities, yet their religious roots have diminished. This
reflects the broader trend toward secularism in Sweden. Many families partake in traditional
customs that have roots in Christianity, yet those customs are not strongly emphasized,
probably because in Sweden, faith is viewed more as a personal matter than something that is
lived out in the public sphere.
Parenting Styles and Legal Protections
Sweden has an openly permissive approach to child-rearing and values children's rights. The
country has a very democratic structure in its society, and this extends down to children as well.
In other words, children are treated like individuals. They are given rights, expressions of which
can sometimes be quite puzzling to those who come from a more authoritarian society.
Biblical Alignment and Divergence
Diverging from the biblical family model, the Swedish family system has several aspects that do
not align with it. For one, Sweden has a diminishing emphasis on marriage. While the Swedes
might not totally disparage marriage, they seem to hold it in lesser esteem than the general
population in the United States.
Similarities Between the Igbo and Swedish Family Systems
At their core, both systems prioritize the welfare of the child, and—above all else—cherish the
idea that the next generation is the critical factor in determining both the stability and the
continuity of society. Both structures also have forms of community involvement, showing the
biblical values of stewardship and nurture. Psalm 127:3-5 makes it very clear that children are a
blessing and a gift from the Lord. It also underscores the tremendous responsibility that parents
and families must invest in the well-being of their children.
Differences Between the Igbo and Swedish Family Systems
Authority in the Igbo family is traditionally (and still in many families) hierarchical, with the
father in charge (and with authority passed from father to son). Elders speak the
pronouncements which determine family matters.
They protect the family line of descent.
The Swedish family system is built on progressive social ideals that prioritize individual
autonomy and gender equality. Unlike the Igbo family, where hierarchy defines relationships,
the typical Swedish family features a high degree of relational parity between spouses.
Cohabitation is widely accepted, and marriage is a largely personal affair, with few considering it
a business or even a sacred contract.
Biblical Alignment and Divergence
First, the Igbo have a strong respect for their elders (both male and female), which aligns closely
with one's family and communal (not individualistic) unity. The biblical command in Exodus
20:12 almost sounds as if it were a commandment that the Igbo would have "made up" for
themselves: "Honor your father and mother that your days may be long in the land that the
Lord your God is giving you."
In contrast, the family system in Sweden fosters equal treatment and nonviolence, which
orderly resonates with biblical teachings on love and care (1 Corinthians 13). Sweden's declining
emphasis on marriage as a sacred covenant and the reduced integration of spiritual instruction
within family life challenge the biblical definition of family. The work of margins in this area has
a direct correlation with the church's mission of making biblical disciples.
References
Brodin, J., & Renblad, K. (2014). Family policies in Sweden and their impact on children. Early
Child Development and Care, 184(9–10), 1399–1411
Köstenberger, A. J., & Jones, D. W. (2010). God, marriage, and family:
Rebuilding the biblical foundation (2nd ed.). Crossway.
Obi, N. (2001). Cultural values in the Igbo family structure. Nigerian Journal of Sociology, 4(2),
55–73.
Dobson, J. (2000). Bringing up boys. Tyndale House.
The Holy Bible. (English Standard Version). (2001). Crossway.
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