For centuries the Turkmen lived as nomadic herdsmen. Today most of them are farmers and cattle breeders. The Turkmen society is definitely male-dominated. Women are restricted and often treated as second-class citizens. They are slow to speak and reserved while in the presence of men.
Arranged marriages are still very common and families often inter-marry to preserve wealth.
Ordinarily, a man does not separate from his father's household until he is between the ages of 30 and 40. By this time, he has been married for 10 to 20 years and has children old enough to be economically productive. Once a man has established a household of his own, he arranges the marriages of his own daughters according to their birth order. The Turkmen are generally tall and thin. They are physically strong and easily able to endure the harshness of the environment.