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Famly, Friends, and Romance
Home » France » France - People and Culture » Famly, Friends, and RomancePosted by Your Guide on May 17, 2006 4:59 PM
The way the French view family has changed significantly in recent decades, especially in the cities. What Americans consider “family values” are typically not priorities in France. The divorce rate has increased significantly, more couples are choosing to live together rather than formally marry, and the birth rate has dropped considerably. Since 1941 France has offered “family allocations” to encourage families to have children, and people with several children sometimes receive monetary government assistance.
In terms of relationships, the French tend to operate within an established core, which is why they can appear cold to outsiders. They simply establish a network of friendships and stick with them. Once a French person has made a friend, they are typically friends for life.
Paris is the world’s most romantic city for a reason. The French value love, more than just about anything else. It is a romanticized view of love, however. In reality, the French struggle with staying in relationships in similar measure to Americans.
Physically, the French are far more expressive than Americans. They typically kiss on the cheeks when they greet one another, and the number of kisses usually indicates the closeness of the relationship.
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