User:EthanSaef/Iu Mien Americans

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The IU Mien were the first people to experience civilization in China. Before their migration, they had 12 sub-tribes living in China (Ying & Chao, 1996). Most of the Iu Mien people currently live in Guangxi province. The Iu Mien are known to be peace-loving people in different parts of the United States, where they migrated to and resettled. Their social organization, through patriarchy, has been integral to the group’s peaceful coexistence. The group’s migration resulted from land disputes between the King of China and Iu Mien King. Due to his love for his people, the Iu Mien king gave up his land to the king of China to safeguard his people from genocide. After the IU Mien king surrendered his land, they agreed to have Iu Mien live as a nation in the hillside and practice their culture without forming a government (Ying & Chao, 1996). However, the hillside terrain was unfavorable for crop cultivation, forcing most of them to migrate to Laos and Thailand, where they lived peacefully until the Vietnam war.

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The patrilineal clan system plays a central role in identifying Iu Mien’s culture. Iu Mien has 12 clan names and operates parallel to the Hmong clan system (MacDonald, 2009). Within the practice, intermarriages among the clan are essential. However, for members with a related tradition, intermarriage is barred. The individual families have sub-clans that play a critical role in religious and socialization functions. The sub-clans are more vital than clans due to their social position and closeness with individual members.

Marriage is an essential social function among Iu Mien. Iu Mien has a distinct cultural practice concerning marriages and sexuality where elders play a critical role in presiding over marriages. The elders are respected and play a central role in blessing newborns with protective spirits. The elders shun premarital sex and childbearing out of wedlock (MacDonald, 2009). A groom’s family has to pay an extra dowry for any child born out of wedlock.