Last night I watched this documentary about the tradition of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan (you can find it here http://www.vice.com/en_uk/vice-news/bride-kidnapping-in-kyrgyzstan-part-1). The title sums it up, the bride is watched then kidnapped by her future husband. After being in total shock at this tradition, I began to give it some thought. A tradition is a tradition and if you follow a certain culture you will never find that tradition wrong or unfair, you will find it normal and expected. Actually, if you don't follow that tradition then you have a problem.
But still, my heart sank. These young women are humiliated in front of everyone and treated like prey that men can just catch. What's even more heartbreaking is that after a few hours the bride settles and is completely fine with the fact that she was just kidnapped by her husband. One of the brides knew the guy and he said he wouldn't kidnap her. He still did. How can you not be mad at a guy who lied to you?
This is a tradition passed through hundreds of generations. How do the parents feel about this? Is it not humiliating and embarrassing seeing your daughter who you've cared for and loved since she were born treated like this? I respect how much these people stick to their culture no matter what.
This brings up an even wider topic about women's rights in countries other than the UK and US. We don't think about this much because we're lucky to have the simplest things like going to university, voting and walking in the street freely. But for some women around the world this is not the case. Many women are still fighting for these simple rights today.
What do you guys think?
But still, my heart sank. These young women are humiliated in front of everyone and treated like prey that men can just catch. What's even more heartbreaking is that after a few hours the bride settles and is completely fine with the fact that she was just kidnapped by her husband. One of the brides knew the guy and he said he wouldn't kidnap her. He still did. How can you not be mad at a guy who lied to you?
This is a tradition passed through hundreds of generations. How do the parents feel about this? Is it not humiliating and embarrassing seeing your daughter who you've cared for and loved since she were born treated like this? I respect how much these people stick to their culture no matter what.
This brings up an even wider topic about women's rights in countries other than the UK and US. We don't think about this much because we're lucky to have the simplest things like going to university, voting and walking in the street freely. But for some women around the world this is not the case. Many women are still fighting for these simple rights today.
What do you guys think?
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ReplyDeletedamn... I have heard of and seen similar things in some other countries and in Indian villages but it was the other way around. it is definitely NOT a part of any culture but the fact that the bride's family would usually have to pay a significant sum of money to the groom in places that still have not developed... bride's that like someone but do not have the money or property to pay would kidnap the guy she wants to marry and so on... never heard of what you are talking about anywhere other than in the movies though :( its just sad...
ReplyDeleteI wonder what it's like when two guys are interested in one girl... it'll be like a kidnapping competition :l poor girls..
to me it's demeaning and shouldn't be the way a marriage starts
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