Outside reading post B

I'm reading Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez.

I love this book so far. One large focus of the book is marriage traditions in Afghanistan. Their traditions are so different from the average American wedding. In America, if you are a virgin when you get married, many people think 'wow'. However being a virgin on your wedding day is expected of you and possibly mandatory in Afghanistan. Another difference is that here, in America, you have the choice of marrying who you want and you date and get to know eachother before becoming engaged. In Afghanistan culture the process which comes before an engagement is that the mother of the groom finds a girl she would like her son to marry and then she contacts that girl's family. The groom's family makes an offer in exchange for their daughter to marry their son. They also promise certain items and money to the bride. At the engagement party the nika-khat (Islamic law document the legally binds them as husband and wife) is signed. The men and the women are not allowed to party, socialize, or rejoice in the same room. The women dress very differently at weddings then their normal gray garments worn on the street. Rodriguez describes the Afghanistan wedding look as a 1950's drag queen. However this look is supposed to symbolize virginity in their culture. Also their dancing is suggestive at weddings, both the men and the women. They do these dances in seperate rooms, divided by gender once again. These dances in America, would never happen at weddings, especially if your grandparents are there.