Blog V
Looking at the culture aspects of Bhutan, there are significant differences compare to the U.S. Due to the small size of the country, much of the legal system is occurs at a local level. Those who are accused of breaking the law have their case heard before local headmen and magistrates. Appeals can be made to an eight member High Court. A last appeal can be made to the king of Bhutan. Family law on the other hand is based on traditional Buddhist and Hindu laws. In the past, Bhutan was virtually crime free but as modernization occurred, burglary and robbery became more common.
Although women are regarded as a lower status than men, women are not disenfranchised nor discriminated against at an institutional level. Land ownership is divided equally for men and women, dowries are not practiced, and women have the same educational opportunities as men. In terms of labor, women and men both tend the fields, yet more women are nurses and teacher than men. This is an indication that the notion of gender roles still exists within the country; they provide the caregiver role. Daughters are also regarded as the ones who care for the parents in old age.
Marriages may be established by either the parents or the individuals. Many of the marriages are performed leaders. Much of the country is monogamous. It has only been in recent times that the act of polyandry (multiple husbands) has been made illegal. Polygamy remains legal still however, but it can only be established if the first wife grants her husband permission.
The brides are not obligated to move into their husband’s side of the family. The husband may move into the wife’s side of the family if his labor is needed. Additionally, newly weds can establish their own households through their own land. Divorce is legal in Bhutan, but compensation from the one seeking the divorce is required.
Education in Bhutan is not mandatory. Over fifty percent of children do not attend schools. The educational system is made of seven years of primary school and four years of secondary school. The number of children attending secondary schools drop drastically compared to those attending primary school. In 1994, the figure of children in primary school was 60,089 compared to 7,299 students in secondary schools. Bhutan only has one college. Hindu students may obtain scholarships to study in Vernares University in India.
Work cited:
Advameg Inc.
2007 Culture of Bhutan for Countries and their Culture. Electronic document,
http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Bhutan.html, accessed October 15th 2007.
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