Week 2: Annie Deng, A01

Annie Deng
Section A01
Week 2

     In The Mis-Education of the Hmong in America, Mouvangsou discusses about the problems within the educational institution in the United States, particularly about the misrepresentation of the Hmong. She further analyzes the impacts of the education system on minority groups in America such as the Hmong. In her research findings, it was interesting to learn that the stereotypes of Hmong men and Hmong women are reversed when compared to general society. It was shocking to me how Hmong men were typically perceived as slow learners. They were less successful and less accomplished in school compared to Hmong women (Mouvangsou, 2016). As a Chinese American female, I could relate to the part when Mouvangsou talked about how the American educational institution is not necessarily a place where all cultures and races are treated equally. I also remember being taught how America accepts everyone and how the uniformity of a diverse population is what makes America, America. However, as I became aware of the issues on the quality of education that universities and schools provide,  I began noticing that everything was always told from the single perspective of white Americans. The inaccuracies of many cultures and ethnicities portrayed in the education system are also detrimental to one's self identity. It is ironic how the U.S. holds the belief that the "melting pot" of multiple cultures is what makes the nation so great, yet the majority of minority groups must thrive in an educational institution that holds values from a predominant race.

Question: What are some specific methods to bring more awareness of the credibility of the U.S. educational institution to minority groups?

References
1. Mouavangsou, K. N. (2016). The Mis-Education of the Hmong in America (Doctoral dissertation, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS).
2. Lederman, D. (2013, July 31). Separate & Unequal [Digital image]. Retrieved April 8, 2017, from https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/server_files/media/executiveSummary_Page_01.jpg