similarities between the two cultures

1) Education: In both cultures, the youth are relatively highly educated. There is also an increase in the number of women who are highly educated. This high education level, coupled with the increase in quality of life shows how the youth have started to strive for success and achievement, bringing out the competitive nature of the youth in both cultures. Hence, marriage has taken a back seat.

This also leads to youth from both countries to be more

2) Individualistic: South Africans dread the idea of practicing Lobola, and some would not consider marriage for this reason. This shows how the youth in this culture have their own stand of point now that they are more westernized and more highly educated. Personal goals become more important, and marriage is considered only after the youth feel that they are financially stable.

Yet, on the other hand, youth are also group-orientated.

3) Group Orientated (Collectivism): Family values are still given much consideration. Some South African youth will practice Lobola because it is still a tradition after all and they want to respect the elderly. In the same way, Singapore youth still carry out traditional customs like the tea ceremony in the Chinese wedding, and throw lavish banquets to ‘please’ their parents even though it might not be their wish to do so. In this case, parents would then have ‘face’.

4) Cautious view towards marriage but recognizes its importance: This is attributed by education and the fact that youth prefer to be financially stable. Therefore, although marriage is a burden in terms of financial and responsibilities, they will marry eventually, but at a later stage of their life.

Posted by McDreamies