Julia Shung, A04, Week 6 Blog

Kaozong N. Mouavangsou in “Hmong Does not mean Free: The Miseducation of and by Hmong Americans” (2019). She analyzed Hmong American educational experiences and miseducation concerning Hmong people through the United States institutions. I found it interesting that the author mentions that Hmong males are less likely to succeed in school than Hmong females. In interviews, that she conducted Hmong males were characterized as lazy and they just enjoyed having fun with their friends. However, Hmong females took their education seriously and although most of the families that Mouavangsou interviewed have mentioned that they try to ingrain into their sons and daughters that they should get an education, find a good job and live a good life that is financially stable. Since males aren’t as focused and determined, this gives females the opportunity to prove their self-worth to their family and gain respect. In this class, we have been discussing the chances of Asian American women receiving jobs, opportunities and tenure. But research has shown that employers are more likely to choose men over women. I find it intriguing that although these Hmong males do not work as hard in school they are still preferred over Hmong females who can do the job exceedingly well, but they go unnoticed.

In regards to the Miseducation of and by Hmong Americans, the education system is primarily taught in a Western European perspective without the acknowledgement that their audience is also geared towards people of color. As Mouavangsou has mentioned, Hmong people in the United States have accepted dominant U.S. views of their culture and are miseducating about their own people and identity. Many Americans do not know who “Hmong” people are and I have experienced this within my own ethnicity when they ask me “what’s that?” This proves to show that minorities and different cultures are not talked about in the Western European education model and that there is a lack of miseducation that is presented to students. My question is how do we change our education system to acknowledge people of color, their identities, culture and background? How can we show cultural appropriation?

References:

“Hmong People.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 May 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hmong_people.

Kaozong N. Mouavangsou. “Hmong Does Not Mean Free: The Miseducation of and

by Hmong Americans”