This article is about the moral concept. For the rock music tour, see Family Values Tour.

Family values is a term popularized by conservatives in the United States as referring to a set of social norms that define a family structure and operation consistent with Christianity. In particular, the term connotes an opposition to family structures other than those containing two legally married heterosexual parents of opposite genders. The term also connotes an opposition to the sexual- and gender-related openness and malleability that resulted from the sexual revolution, particularly as reflected in the media.

The use of family values to refer exclusively to conservative ideologies has been challenged, as many liberal commentators have advocated what they believe is a more historical and tolerant definition of family values, which includes values in support of households of any kind.

Historical perspective

Family values are not fixed and rigid; they change in response to economic, political, and cultural developments. They vary from country to country, and even between different households. Prior to the 20th century, for example, the idea of a married woman seeking status and recognition independent of her husband would have been a breach of family values, as women were expected to focus exclusively on household duties. As countries have shifted economically from agriculture to industry, extended families have given way to nuclear families.

Family values in U.S. politics

Since 1980 the Republican party has used the issue of family values to attract socially conservative voters, especially those in the south and middle America. The use of "family values" as a term became widespread after a 1992 speech by vice president Dan Quayle that attributed the Los Angeles riots to a breakdown of family values. It remains a core issue for the party, playing a significant role in President George W. Bush's re-election in 2004.

Family values, as understood among conservatives, usually include

• The sanctity of marriage as a lasting bond between a man and a woman
• The importance of a stable, responsible family in a child's development
• Participation in voluntary institutions (including churches) to improve the community and provide for social welfare
• Parental responsibility for and control over children's education
• Public policies compatible with Christian morality
• Rejection of homosexuality
• Rejection of abortion

This is not to say that the Democratic Party makes no appeal to families. Its platforms contain sections making such appeals, but these typically describe policies to improve the lives of individuals, rather than strengthening interpersonal relationships.

See also

• Christian right
• Compassionate conservatism
• Heteronormativity
• Southern strategy
• William Bennett

Books

• Bennett, William J., ed. The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993. ISBN 0671683063.

External links

• 2004 Republican Party Platform ("Protecting our Families")
• 2004 Democratic National Platform ("Strong, Healthy Families")
• Dan Quayle, Speech to the Commonwealth Club of California