Hmong culture is underestimated and rarely talked about in our society. In Manee Moua’s Navigating Graduate Education as a First-Generation, Hmong American Woman: An Autoethnography is quite surprising. The amount of Hmongs to receive a graduation degree is astonishing low. Around 4.1% of the total Hmong American population for 25 years and over. I can relate to when she describes the research of the Hmong Americans focusing on psychological needs. I can relate because I, myself as a Vietnamese American understand that our low graduation rates can be from the fact of a lack of paternal support and alertness of the socioeconomic status. I completely understand her statement, "Some challenges consisted of a lack understanding and guidance to seek resources and counseling support, difficulty navigating through expectations of higher education, and the pressure of the cultural and gender responsibilities, expectations, roles, and obligations to one's family and financial struggles."
Many minority individuals do not seek help due the society's way of viewing minorities as weak and helpless but also "rich". I agree with the stereotype that why would the system help us if we are known to be as rich but in many cases, we are barely surviving. She used her own personal experience in this article and it really touched me. However, since our parents are not educated about the system, as minorities we often feel helpless and no one to turn to. As first generation, we often utilize the disadvantage to use the advantage of students, teachers, and counselors around you. If it was not for the ones to help me, I would have not been able to go to college at all. I have often found that I compared my own education values to others. The model minority does not however bring us down. As an Vietnamese American, I do not face the same isolation as Hmong American students or Hmong students do. The author did a very well job explaining the consequences and difficulties and what factors can contribute to their educational journeys.
Question: However, as Asian Americans I find it very unfair that we are known to be wealthy and often offered less money than other ethnicities. What can we do about this controversy or how can we use this and help advantage our education?
Mouavangsou, N.K. (2012). Hmong Does Not Mean Free: The Miseducation of Hmong Americans. University of California Davis, Retrieved from https://www.hmongstudiesjournal.org/hmong-studies-newsletter-spring-2017.html
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