family values
Domestic moral standards
Family values refers to moral principles associated with traditional family structures—typically emphasizing marriage, parental authority, and conservative sexual ethics.
The phrase gained political currency in the 1980s and 1990s as shorthand for opposition to abortion, divorce, and LGBTQ rights: They ran on a platform of family values.
Critics note the term often excludes non-traditional families while implying a moral monopoly.
Custom passed through generations
- respectRegard with honor
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
integrity · unity · discipline · stability · heritage · nurturing · guidance · support
Preference for existing institutions
- traditionalismAdherence to inherited customs
- religiosityDevotion to faith
- pro-lifeAgainst elective pregnancy termination
- heteronormativityAssumed universal straightness
patriarchy · abstinence · chastity · fidelity · piety · decency · wholesomeness · propriety
Concern for others' distress
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- caringShowing kind concern
- empathySharing another's emotions
- patienceCalm during delays
gratitude · generosity · altruism · fairness · forgiveness · humility · honesty · selflessness
tradition
Custom passed through generations
- respectRegard with honor
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
loyalty · integrity · unity · discipline · stability · heritage · nurturing · guidance · support · bonding
conservatism
Preference for existing institutions
- traditionalismAdherence to inherited customs
- religiosityDevotion to faith
- pro-lifeAgainst elective pregnancy termination
heteronormativity · patriarchy · abstinence · chastity · fidelity · piety · decency · wholesomeness · propriety
compassion
Concern for others' distress
patience · gratitude · generosity · altruism · fairness · forgiveness · humility · honesty · selflessness · gentleness
- ItalyRome, Venice, Milan, Florence, Naples
- valueshonesty, worth, fairness, morals, good
- Family Quotesparental love, sibling love
- Small-Town Lifegeneral store, town square, front porch, church steeple, water tower
- ColombiaBogota, Medellin, Cali, Colombian flag, Colombian coffee
- religious ethicsChristian ethics, divine command, moral law, divine law, love thy neighbor
family valuesindividualism
Doctrine of personal independence
self-interest · personal autonomy · radical individualism · personal freedom · hedonism
family valuesfree love
Unstructured romantic and sexual bonds
sexual liberation · permissiveness · sexual revolution · promiscuity · polyamory
family valueshedonism
Pursuit of gratification
partying · self-indulgence · decadence · debauchery · promiscuity
family, value, valuable, values, families, familial, familiarize, family's, familiarly