Family Structure- Family is considered almost the most important part of their culture. The extended family gets together regularly even if they do not live close. Driving 3-4 hours to see each other is not an issue, and it could happen at least once a week. A lot of people in the middle to upper class usually have a housekeeper or maid watching their children and cleaning because they work long hours. It is natural for kids to know their cousins extremely well and the other members of their extended family. It isn't uncommon to find the children living for long periods of time in their other relatives house, whether it be for educational purposes or other reasons. A lot of the time the close friends of the parents are referred to as "uncle" or "aunt" by the children. All of these ties to the extended family and the close friends are helpful during the nuclear family's crisis. They are a support system for them in times of need. A traditional thing for them is that the women are supposed to obey their husbands, but that is quickly changing during these times.
Social Classes- A very traditional way is that the social classes don't really have room for mobility. They're a lot of people in the middle class , but they usually don't interact with people from the other income classes. The wealthier part of Chile usually keeps to themselves and other wealthy people. They live in the northern part of Santiago and they don't usually ever go to the south or the center where it is the busy, crowded, downtown parts of Chile. The richer kids go to exclusive schools and only interact with their peers. When they go home they might see a tiny bit of what the other classes are like because they have nannies or maids, but other than that they never talk to people from the other classes. It isn't really a rule, more of an exception. A number of words used to describe a person's social class is very important in what part of the social ladder they are in. It also helps that they have strong family ties. It is said that sometimes the ties are so strong it could keep the children from befriending or marrying outside of their social class. Although the way that the middle class is changing and become more open and wealthy, they still can't be a part of the upper class because there are still clubs and inner circles that keep them out of joining the upper class, it is the strongest barrier that keeps them from getting in.
Social Classes- A very traditional way is that the social classes don't really have room for mobility. They're a lot of people in the middle class , but they usually don't interact with people from the other income classes. The wealthier part of Chile usually keeps to themselves and other wealthy people. They live in the northern part of Santiago and they don't usually ever go to the south or the center where it is the busy, crowded, downtown parts of Chile. The richer kids go to exclusive schools and only interact with their peers. When they go home they might see a tiny bit of what the other classes are like because they have nannies or maids, but other than that they never talk to people from the other classes. It isn't really a rule, more of an exception. A number of words used to describe a person's social class is very important in what part of the social ladder they are in. It also helps that they have strong family ties. It is said that sometimes the ties are so strong it could keep the children from befriending or marrying outside of their social class. Although the way that the middle class is changing and become more open and wealthy, they still can't be a part of the upper class because there are still clubs and inner circles that keep them out of joining the upper class, it is the strongest barrier that keeps them from getting in.