Young Adult's Independence-A Contrast between the USA and Spain by Maria Mendez

 

Both Spain and the United States are considered to be WEIRD (Western, Industrialized, Educated, Rich, Democratic) countries, so it seems safe to assume that they share similar cultural values. However, even with countries that are considered on the same level, they differ drastically in terms of what they value and the societal expectations set by these values. During my time living in Spain, I have noticed that the expectations in terms of a young adult's level of independence are very different between these two countries. In the United States, young adults are expected to move out of their parent's homes the moment they have finished their educational endeavors, whether that be after high school at the age of 18 or after college at the age of 22. The level of independence expected from young adults seems to be much higher in the United States than in other WEIRD countries, such as Spain. In Spain, it is socially acceptable to live with your parents throughout your 20s given that it is the age in which most young adults are beginning to shape their career. The United States, however, has a strong stigma against adults who live with their parents. The stereotype views adults who live with their parents as lazy or regressed in the development of their life. I have found that Spanish households are much more understanding of the struggle of setting up a career and therefore try to help young adults by allowing them to stay at home as long as they need. Many college students in the United States pick a university that is far from home, beginning that transition of independence much earlier in their lives. Spaniards, on the other hand, tend to attend their local university making living at home a much more feasible and logical option. It also means that Spaniards tend to begin the transition of independence much later in their lives.