An Assessment: The Mongolians versus the Romani

            Both of the marriage rituals discussed above are used more as ways to link families together than for religious purposes. The Mongolians and the Romani both pay bride prices to the family of the woman, though the Mongolians also partake in gifting dowries. Both ethnic groups traditionally stay near the groom’s family after marriage, the Romani in the groom’s parents’ home and the Mongolians in a yurt alongside the groom’s parents’ camp. And both most commonly seek spouses within their own communities.

            There aren’t as many differences as one might expect between the traditions of the Mongolians and the Roma. The Romani value family over everything else, though the Mongolians work toward the betterment of their careers or their herds over marriage sometimes. And Romani marriages can be arranged, and are usually arranged more often than not, unlike Mongolians.

            The Roma have an immensely strong sense of family and a need to build family to keep their ethnic group from getting wiped out. For the Mongolians, not so much. Sure, they care about raising children, but it isn’t their main focus in married life. And their allowance of getting to choose their own mates shows that they’re permitted choices in their futures, something the Romani women aren’t always allowed. And while the Romani value pure and good wives, there is very visible gender stratification within their communities. The women are made to take care of the house, her in-laws, and her children. Should she slack, she’d be shamed. The Mongolian woman on the other hand are allotted a little more freedom as they don’t have to care for their in-laws and are eligible to get paying jobs in the workforce.