64 CultureShock! Chile
Raising Children
Young children are raised in a very relaxed manner. You’ll
notice that some parents beg their children to behave
rather than demand it. There appears to be a general lack
of discipline in public places. On numerous occasions
we have wanted to sternly tell a child to sit down and
be good because the parents’ half-hearted attempts had
been ineffectual. Yet once they reach adolescence they
are, for the most part, very well behaved and respectful of
their parents.Ties That Bind
In the past, a woman who was single and lived on her own
was assumed to be loose, bringing shame upon herself and
her entire family, or an old maid. While these perceptions
have changed and more women are moving out of their
parents’ home before marriage, the total number is still
relatively small. Most single women in Santiago who live
alone come from other cities and therefore have no family
with which to live.
Children still live at home until they get married because
the concept of striking out on one’s own is not as pervasive
as it is in other cultures. If you are studying at any of the
universities, you’ll note that the majority of the students live
at home. There is no dorm life. Thus, there is no defining
moment for establishing one’s independence before
marriage. This is also due, in part, to the high level of support
given by the family, both financial and otherwise. Most
students or newly employed young adults cannot afford their
own apartment, and there is no pressure from either family
or friends to move out. In many cases, mom (or the nana)
continues doing the laundry, cooking, cleaning, ironing, etc.
Why would anyone want to leave?The Regalón
The term regalón/regalona refers to someone who is spoiled
by one or both parents. Each family has at least one. Don’t
get this confused, however, with a spoiled brat who acts
snotty and is given whatever he or she wants. The term