In the United States,when two people marry and have children they have choices about what last name to use for their children.Some couples may choose to use both of their last names to create a hyphenated version for their children while others might use the woman's last name as a middle name and the father's last name as the child's last name.In the Hmong culture,the male is the head of the household.Children take on the father's last name and in families that still maintain the traditional culture,the newly married couple may even move in with the husband's family.In many respects,the Hmong woman has given up her family and is expected to be a part of her husband's kin.What accounts for the differences between the American and Hmong culture?

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The main difference between American and Hmong culture regarding last names is that descent is bilateral in the United States, allowing for more flexibility in choosing the child's last name, while it is patrilineal in the Hmong culture, where the child takes on the father's last name as a way to maintain family lineage and hierarchy. This reflects the patriarchal structure of Hmong society where the male is the head of the household and women are expected to take on their husband's family kinship.

In the United States,when Two People Marry and Have Children