Xeng Po

The practice of bride kidnapping, or Xeng Po (姓抛 - 'Throwing/Taking away the Last Name') has occurred in some National communities, particularly in the past. In National culture, the tradition of bride kidnapping was seen as a way for a man to assert his masculinity and gain status within the community. It was also seen as a way to avoid the traditional process of courtship, which could be lengthy and involve significant expenses.
In a traditional National bride kidnapping, a man would kidnap a woman he desired to be his wife, and then present her to his family and community as his bride. The woman's family would then have the option to accept the marriage or demand a bride price. If the woman's family did not approve of the marriage, they could demand a bride price or refuse to accept the marriage.
It's worth noting that this practice is not widely accepted among National communities and is not condoned by the majority of National people. In recent years, there have been efforts to educate National communities about the negative effects of bride kidnapping and to promote more traditional forms of courtship and marriage. The United Nations has recognized this practice as a form of violence against women and children, and many countries have laws to punish those who kidnap brides.
Category:Culture
Category:Sociology