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Being Hmong in America: The Hmong American Experience
Being Hmong American, a lot of the time the question "who am I?" comes up often. Self-doubt about whether they are "Hmong" enough or "American" enough occurs more often than it seems. This causes many Hmong American students to feel disconnected from both communities.
Being Hmong American means that you have to compromise between the two identities; Hmong and American.
The Hmong community is a collective-based society whereas the American community is an individualist-based society. A collective society means that everything is done based on what is good for the community. In a collective society, you put the community and family's best interest first before the individual interest. In an individualist society, you do things for yourself and you put your interest first. People in an individualist society are more independent and self-sufficient. Being Hmong living in America is a challenge because they want to be able to have self-expression, independence, and freedom but such wants are seen as being rebellious in the Hmong community. However, being a filial child means not being assertive enough to the American stander. With this being said the clash of cultures makes Hmong American students feel a sense of rejection from both sides of their identities.
Image is provided by PaNhia Vang
With the American school system and the influences of media, students are expected to be assertive and vocal. In the Hmong culture, Hmong children are raised and expected to be passive and timid, especially in front of their elders. With these two differing expectations, Hmong students struggle with the school system and the American community. They find it challenging to be assertive and vocal about their wants and needs.
In Ngo's (2016) study, for Hmong students to survive and live the American dream, they would have to acculturate to the dominant culture. This caused them to lose their Hmong identity. With acculturating, Hmong students became more individualized, however, with this new freedom they are isolated from their community causing negative feelings and emotions about being Hmong (Her and Buley, 2012; Ngo 2016).
If Hmong students do not acculturate to the dominant culture it is difficult for them to make a living. There is very little to no individual freedom. This means everything they do is based on the community and family. Most of their decision is based on what the community agrees on. Weekends are typically reserved for family gatherings and functions. You are expected to be present and help out even if you are busy with school or work.
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