Diet among the Hmong consists mainly of rice, vegetables such as beans, squash, and carrots, and melons. Women also spend a lot of free time on embroidery in clothing. Men spend time hunting for small game and birds to supplement their diet. Men hold public positions of power and prestige, while women are in charge of everything in the homes. Men are the public voices for their families With the Hmong, the bride's family gives a dowry to the groom's family right before the marriage.
Women typically marry younger than men.
Once they marry, the bride will move to the groom's village. There they will get their own home, which is a symbol of prestige. After they get married, having children will be the next step taken by the couple to gain respect from their community. They do however have high birth rates. Due to a lack of medical care and potential food shortages the infant mortality rates are still high.