High Divorce In Vietnamese Culture

The Vietnamese culture is a truly complex culture. In traditional interpersonal relationships, Vietnamese people list their family name first, then their middle name, and their first name listed last. First names are not passed down and names usually have meaning. Most names are able to be used for either gender. Each family member has a designated kinship term, which are used when family members address one another. The Vietnamese culture is more concerned with status, obtained with age and educational status, than with wealth. Education would likely be of most importance, followed by age, then wealth. Certain words are used to show respect, such as, Thua, which means please. Some Vietnamese will bow their heads to a superior or elder. High
This is believed to be because men are the head of the household and the primary wage earners, therefore, a woman could not provide for herself in the case of divorce. As for gender roles, the fathers typically work outside and manage the money, while the mother takes the homemaking duties and raising the children. It is not uncommon for men to answer questions for their wife. Before, men were more educated than women, but now the educational gap is closing, especially with the Vietnamese population in America. This means women that attain higher education will likely work outside the home. Family is very important in the Vietnamese culture. Family members are expected to work and behave for the good of the group. If a family member is acting outside of social norms, the family may publicly denounce that member. Often, there are two to four generations living under one roof, including the immediate family (nha) and the extended family (ho). Immediate family is considered the nuclear family plus the husband’s parents and the grown sons’ spouses and children. The extended family is the immediate family plus family members of the same and relatives residing in close