In this first comprehensive study in English of the emotional workings and social roles of family groups in Egypt, Rugg draws on the insights of several disciplines — anthropology, sociology, religion, and history.
Hundreds of personal interviews gathered over five years of field research are skilfully woven into a background of Egyptian law, economic conditions, public policy, and media debates of social issues to provide an authentic portrayal of family life in both Muslim and Christian communities.
Deeply rooted values preserve family solidarity in the face of stresses caused by rapid economic changes and the ideological challenges of modernization and Western influences. In the Egyptian view, marriage should and does fulfill cherished expectations of mutual support within extended family groups.
While present-day conditions may often disrupt the balanced satisfactions of family ties, Rugh demonstrates that changes in the nature and extent of family roles often act to defend and stabilize the security of the family as a group, maintaining traditional goals and values in Egyptian culture.
