Hmong Social Justice
Women's Rights
A major social injustice within the Hmong society would have to be women’s rights. The Hmong society is very traditional and their hierarchical structure has made it impossible for women to ever reach the same social status as men.
The culture still reinforces traditions such as men taking the role of being an “elder” within the clan or family. They also believe that the man should always be the breadwinner and the woman should be present to have children and maintain the house.
A major tradition they also still practice that is quite unique to people in this day and age is paying a “bridal price” or paying the brides family for their daughters hand in marriage. This money is not the equivalent of a dowry, rather it is seen as a social contract. The two families agree upon a bridal price depending on the woman's appearance, education and social standing. The price is meant to serve as a sort of as essentially an insurance payment for the families daughter. If the family she is to marry into rejects her or abuses her the money is returned and the marriage will no longer occur.
This tradition is becoming a major point of debate for the younger generation of Hmong in the United States. The young generation is very independent and see this as a very archaic way of thinking. However, the Hmong clans choose not to abolish it because they would be giving up a piece of their culture and it would cause issues for other marriages that already occurred under this tradition. Erasing this rule would cause many conflicts within the families and the older generation thinks it will be difficult to guarantee the safety of the bride if there is no payment for her.
A major social injustice within the Hmong society would have to be women’s rights. The Hmong society is very traditional and their hierarchical structure has made it impossible for women to ever reach the same social status as men.
The culture still reinforces traditions such as men taking the role of being an “elder” within the clan or family. They also believe that the man should always be the breadwinner and the woman should be present to have children and maintain the house.
A major tradition they also still practice that is quite unique to people in this day and age is paying a “bridal price” or paying the brides family for their daughters hand in marriage. This money is not the equivalent of a dowry, rather it is seen as a social contract. The two families agree upon a bridal price depending on the woman's appearance, education and social standing. The price is meant to serve as a sort of as essentially an insurance payment for the families daughter. If the family she is to marry into rejects her or abuses her the money is returned and the marriage will no longer occur.
This tradition is becoming a major point of debate for the younger generation of Hmong in the United States. The young generation is very independent and see this as a very archaic way of thinking. However, the Hmong clans choose not to abolish it because they would be giving up a piece of their culture and it would cause issues for other marriages that already occurred under this tradition. Erasing this rule would cause many conflicts within the families and the older generation thinks it will be difficult to guarantee the safety of the bride if there is no payment for her.