Week 3 - Adriana Goracci A01

Hmong  Does Not Mean Free: The Miseducation Of Hmong Americans 

Kaozong N. Mouavangsou's study critically analyzes the relationship between the modern U.S. educational system and the Hmong community, offering a different perspective on the topic of education. 

The author describes her need to excel in education as the only possible way to be treated equally as the members of the opposite gender under the eye of not only her family but the entire Hmong community. It was at that time that she noticed the lack of effort coming from the opposite gender, who even by having the basic requirements, would avoid challenging academics. This consideration stuck to her not only in high school but throughout her undergraduate and graduate years. To the point where she conducted this study, in order to investigate the origins of these differences. 

The study used as participants 5 Hmong families living in the United States. The findings from this study show that the source of the different expectancies relies upon the system itself. In addition, there are powerful beliefs in the Hmong community that relate to the US educational system. Not only it is believed to be a better system, but it is considered the base for a financial stability. Meaning that the importance education holds goes beyond the differences in gender but rather represents a necessity to survive in the United States. However, not once the US system was criticized, highlighting the negative impacts it can have on the Hmong community. 

The sense of division explained on page 4 is very interesting and applicable to my own personal experience. It states”You’re not really Hmong because you’re not really with the Hmong people” (Hue Vang). I can relate to this statement because I have always been surrounded by italian friends in my first years of school, whilst in high school I was more exposed to an international setting. So, the lack of chinese people around me, has shaped me in a way where it makes me feel out of place or even uncomfortable when surrounded by chinese. I have adopted habits that do not fully belong to my origins and therefore can not fully harmonize.

Lastly, this article investigates the misleading nature of school textbooks. The author explains how most American textbooks provide a one-dimensional sequenceofe events, overseeing the injustices and suffering of the Hmong community. In fact, most textbooks don’t even name the hmong community. The educational system is constructed to foster the perception that America is great.

Question: Why is the cultural aspect of the Hmong community (myths and legends) so overlooked even tho it represents an enormous portion of a Hmong's personality?

References:

- Williams, Sarina. “Hmongs Services in California.” Hmongs Services in California | We've Moved. Join Us at YouthVoices.live, 22 Feb. 2016, youthvoices.net/discussion/hmongs-services-california.

- Mouavangsou, Kaozong N. Hmong Does Not Mean Free: The Miseducation Of Hmong Americans . University of California, Davis.