week 3 Lucero Hernandez A04

This week readings on the Miseducation of Hmong Americans by Mouavangsou, ties in with the ideas discussed since the beginning of class. The educational system has enforced the idea of the model minority, in other words, it is not only responsible for creating barriers and difference between the different ethnic minorities but also for creating a distinction within said minorities. This article touches on cultural assimilation which we have not yet looked too much into depth; however, it is crucial in the construction of the identities of various individuals. Many Asian parents without knowing aid in the process of cultural assimilation while raising their kids in America, with the idea that in order to fit in they must excel in education to have financial stability, as seen with the various Hmong families interviewed. Cultural assimilation allows the US educational system to ignore the history of  Hmong culture, meanwhile painting the United States in a “positive” light. This causes for many Hmong individuals to become miseducated in their families background and in how they fit in. Furthermore, within the ideology of the model minority, not all Asian groups are seen as “models” for example the reading touched on the fact that Hmong individuals were described as being illiterate. Since the educational system allows such distinctions to be made between which group is better it creates more gaps for Asian ethnicities to come together to fight for equal representation. 

Question: If there were more ethnic studies classes or classes about identity throughout middle and high school would it perhaps diminish the gap that exists between the different minority’s groups? 

References: 

Kaltopsyd. “American Assimilation and I.” Hubspages, July 10, 2016. Retrieved from https://hubpages.com/education/Assimilation-and-I [image] 

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