Page 490 - El État de los derechos humanos en el desarrollo sostenible
P. 490

EL ETAT DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS EN EL DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE













                  “Women are white cloth, men are gold”

                  This traditional Khmer saying implies that women are vulnerable, If gold becomes dirty, it is

                  easily washed off; but if a white cloth becomes dirty, it will never be the same again. A girl

                  cannot integrate back into society if she has become “tarnished,” while a man can. It is  very
                  true to societal attitudes about girls.[2]



                  Arranged Marriage
                  Arranged marriage has been the tradition in Cambodia for centuries and remains the norm

                  practiced for Cambodians. Many families arranged marriages while they were still very young.

                  Traditional Cambodian culture also pressures parents to choose and arrange marriages for

                  the child. A girl is expected to obey her parents and elders.
                  The families of the bride and groom employ representatives to check out the background of a

                  potential spouse and his and her family. If this goes well and the permission is granted to

                  marry,  the  families  exchange  presents,  make  plans  and  consult  a  fortuneteller  about  an
                  auspicious  day  to  get  married.  There  are  no  rules  about  marrying  within  or  without  a

                  community.  Marriages  between  cousins  are  generally  okay.  There  are  also  no  rules  about

                  where newlyweds live after the get married although many have traditionally moved in with
                  the wife’s family.[3]



                  The Angkor period 9th - 14th century
                  Throughout Cambodia's  long  history,  religion  has  been  a  major  source  of  cultural

                  inspiration. The choice of a spouse is a complex. A man usually marries between the ages of















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