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| Life Before the Khmer Rouge... |
| In pre-Khmer rouge society, it was common for the woman to be the matriarch, responsible for family finances, household chores, childbearing and raising and the overall well-being of her family. The man on the other hand was the one in charge of matters that dealt with the "outside" world, the business world. He was also the one responsible for the families income. If finances were an issue in a family though, the woman would take on a job as well. In Cambodia, the most common jobs women had at this time was being a street vendor. |
Family is a very important part of Cambodian life and society. It is the basic unit of living. Family is where life ends and begins with Cambodians, it’s where they find their greatest rewards and feel the deepest joy. Although this is true, couples do not show public displays of affection, (even if you’re married) it is simply frowned upon. Education for children in families is even more important than the family unit itself. Parents scrounge up every single cent they can just to send their kids to school. If they just don’t have the money to cover schooling, the kids are forced to temporarily quit but it is still imperative that they finish their education. There’s such a stress on education because, unlike the west, it determines whether or not you’re acceptable in society, (cities) rather than just a means of securing a financial future. As boys and girls grow older they are equipped with the basic "Cambodian" skills. Boys learn how to fish and farm rice by accompanying their fathers to the fields. Girls will learn how to cook, clean and harvest rice from their mothers. When they get old enough to marry, they’re allowed to pick their partners but it’s ideal for them to agree to an arranged marriage. It is not, however, frowned upon if they choose not to be in an arranged marriage. But it is also possible for parents to choose which guys the girl is allowed to date. So the girl still gets to choose her groom, she just chooses from a smaller selection. The elderly Cambodians spend most of their time just relaxing and engaging in some kind of religious activity. They’re also considered the wisest of a family and their wishes are always heeded. When they get too old to take care of themselves, it is customary that the eldest child becomes the caretaker. Source: Welaratna,
Usha. Beyond the Killing Fields (Voices of Nine Cambodian Survivors
in America). Stanford California: Stanford University Press, 1993.
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