Codependent family dynamics: breaking the cycle

Cultural expectations have given rise to an epidemic of abuse and coercive control behind closed doors, and communities often look the other way because of cultural conditioning and misappropriation of the religious teaching to "respect our parents". While parents are our greatest teachers and gurus, social programming has enabled many parents to prioritize their own desires and comfort above respecting the basic human rights and dignity of those below them in the social hierarchy, and this not promote the emotional prosperity of all people living in the household. In codependent families, children are always seen as lower priority in terms of honoring of basic human rights, our emotional needs, and true authentic self-expression. 

Instead of blindly submitting to the mandates of those above us in the context of social hierarchy, it is important to take a step back and take an honest account of our own self-worth, beliefs, and values. It is never disrespectful to educate our elders in a respectful manner about errors in their ways especially when their socially conditioned beliefs would serve only to uphold their image or status, to speak ill of those with different religious or social practices, force us into arranged marriages against our will, endorse the abuse or neglect of other family members, and stifle our voice and authenticity. I view it as disrespectful to be placed into a family as a generational curse breaker and to then stay silent and not educate our parents about tolerance, love, and compassion.