hmong mothers and daughters: cultural adjustment and conflict

151 Pages·2009·5.03 MB·English

HMONG MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS: CULTURAL ADJI!STMEN?'

AND CONFLICT

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty
s
o
California State University, Stanislaus
In Partial f?ulfillnient

Of the Requirements for the Degree

of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies,

Cultural Antllropology

BY
Maykou Margaret Vang

December 1994

Abstract

HMONG MOTHERS AND IIAUGHTERS: CULTURAL

ADJUSTMENT AND CONFLICT

BY

Maykou Margaret Vang

Today young Hmong women growing in the United States face a hture that is
very different frotn the one for which their mothers were prepared while growing up in the
mouiltains of Laos. As these mothers struggle to rear their daughters in the cultural milieu
ofthe United States, there is conflict and pain on both sides. The daughters of today live
in a complex large-scale society where a communicative and active style is often called for.
They are being reared by mothers whose backgrounds were in small-scale, slash and burn
agricultural societies; where silence and passivity were paramount in the old tradition.
The societal roles of both 1-Tmong mothers and daughters have changed. These
changing roles often result in conflict and misunderstanding between mother and daughter.
The intensity and frequency of these conflicts are dependent upon the differing rates of
adaptation and acculturation to U.S.cultural values and lifestyle. This research seeks to
identi@ and discuss significant factors which contribute to conflicts which arise between
Hmong tnothers and their teenage daughters living in Merced, California as acculturation
takes place in the United States. This study seeks to explore these relationships and
iv
provide a context for understanding the coilflicts and misuilderstandings which arise as the
daughters enter adolescence.
Questions were developed to gather iniormation about the infoi-mants'
backgrounds, families, mother-daughter relationship, the identification of potential
problems, levels of education, and cornparison of life style between the United States and
Laos. The Hmong history, traditional culture and the H~nongc ultural adaptation to life in
the United States form the background of this study. These may provide insights and
possible answers to identify coilflicts between mothers and daughters as Hmong women
iniegrate into American society.
This study focuses on the disagreements between I-Imong mothers and daughters
regarding issues associated will1 schooling, extra-curricular activities, dating, and
responsibilities in the home. The nature of these conflicts has a direct impact on both the
mothers' and daughters' levels of education and sophistication as well as the familiarity
with the "new culture," language, and educational system in which they now operate.
ICeywol-ds: Hmong, Mother/Daughter, Acculturation, Adaptation, Intergenerational
Conflict, Merced, California, United States
I owe a great debt of gratitude to many people without whom I wolild never have
accomplished this rcsearct~. I want to thank my Nmong mother and daughter ir~fonnants
for the many hours that they provided in sharing their experiences and stories.
I sincerely want to thank my cornlnittee for their guidance, comments, suggestions,
extensive time in editing, reading, and rereading of my work. All of you have been
through so much during the last several n~onthso f my thesis and yet, you continued to be
there for me. 1especially want to thank you for your patience, encouragement, support,
and friendship. I want to thank Dr. Susar~M iddleton-Keim for her valuable comments,
preciseness, and the superb job she did at keeping me abreast of opportunities which
greatly enhanced my personal and academic development; Laura Boyer, who taught me
that "Consistency is one sign of a good scholar" in both words and deed; and Dr. Ida
Bowers for being the advisor that she has been for me over the years. You have helped
me change so many things around me and my outlook of life. No student could ever ask
for an advisor who cares as much about her students as you do. Thank you for all the
times you have spent listening to me and understanding me. I can never say "Thank You"
enough. Together, I thank all three of you for your expertise and knowledge.
I'd like to thank Dr. Hensen and his staff at Merced High School North Campus
for their assistance; Student Support Services for their moral support and encouragement;
Tou Lee Xiong for his artistic contribution; Dr. Ines Miyares for her friendship and
interest of the FImong people; Michael Randle for his kindhearted assistance and valuable
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advice, "1'1 tG I'UNCI-I"; and lily friends, Tracy Silveria and Susan Holgate, affectionately
known as the "ABT"club for their sense of humor, advice, and support during trying
times.
I want to thank my two American families, the Nelsons and the Moores, who have
given me the opportunity to live, learn, and experience the American dream and way of
life; my uncle, Dr. Yang Dao, for his co~nn~endtusr ing the early stage of my research; my
grandmothel-s Mrs. Mino Yang and Xy Lo Moua, cousin Ly Moua, brothers, and sisters
(especially, Mayko) for their support; my father-in-law, Nhia Bee Moua, who encourages
me as a Hmong daughter-in-law to continue my education; my mother-in-law, Soua Yang
Moua for her patience and full supports in carrying for my children--who drove her nuts
day aRer day; and my parents, Peter Chou Vang and May Yang Vang, who I can riever
thank enough for giving me 2 life, loving me, encouraging me, supporting me, believing in
me, and giving me the opportunity to go to school. I thank them for their emotional and
financial support, and for their understanding of tny marriage to my husband (thank you
mom and dad, it means a lot to me).
Finally, I am thankful for my daughter, Shoua Nha, and my son, Mino, who came
into my life during my graduate studies. They gave me all the reasons to finish this project
and look forward to a happy and productive life. Last but not least, I especially want to
thank one very special man in my life, my husband, Chuya Meng Moua, without whom
this thesis would have not started or finished. No words can ever express how thankfill I
am to have you, but one thing for certain, "Tsis muaj leej twg yav pawv tau koj nyob rau
hauv kuv lub neej."
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

List of Tables ......................................................................................................... x

List of Figures ........................................................................................................ x

Chapter

1 Introduction............................................................................................... 1

The Problem .............................................................................................. 7

Statement of the Problem .......................................................... 7

Significance of the Study. .......................................................... 11

Theoretical Basis ofthe Study. .................................................. 12

2 Literature Review

General Studies on Cultural Adaptation and Conflict ................ 15

Studies of Hmong in I.,aos......................................................... 28

.
Research on F-Iinong Acculturation in the United States ............. 30

3 Methodology............................................................................................. 43

Questionnaire............................................................................ 47

Administration of Quesi.ionnaire................................................ 47

Limitations................................................................................49
4 The I-iistory and Culture of the Hmong People

Introduction.............................................................................. 51

Migration Patterns of the Hmong People ................................... 51

Traditional Life Style. .............................................................. 51

Family Structure ........................................................................ 56

Marriage................................................................................... 58

Roles and Responsibilities of Mmong Women ............................ 62

Education.................................................................................. 67

5 Data Analysis

Background of Informants ......................................................... 73

Concept of Family ..................................................................... 75

Head of Family .......................................................................... 76

Education.................................................................................. 77

Social Interaction .....................................................................8.2

Life in the United States ............................................................ 84

Courtship-Dating ...................................................................... 94

Family. Marriage. and Careel-.................................................... 97

Mother-Daughter Relationships. ................................................ 101
Summary. Conclusion. and Recommendations
Summary. .................................................................................. 117
Conclusion. .............................................................................. 121
Recommendations ..................................................................... 129
RIBLIOGfWPIIY ..................................................................................................1 32
A . Books .................................................................................. 132
B . Journals ................................................................................1 33
C . Newspapers .......................................................................... I35
D . Public Documents .................................................................1 35
D . Unpublished Sources ............................................................ 135
F . Dissertations ......................................................................... 136
G . Pel*sonalI nterviews ............................................................ 137
APPENDIX
Questionnaires (mother) ............................................................ 138
Questionnaires (daughter) ......................................................... I40
LIST OF TABLES

Table Page
1.1 I3mong Refiigee Coinmunities in California............................................. 5

4.1 IItnong Clan Name Written In English And Hmong ................................. 56

5.1 IIead of Household of Hmong Mothers Interviewed ................................ 76

5.2 Head of IIousehold of 13mong Daughters Intenriewed ............................. 77

5.3 I-lnlong Mothers' Education .................................................................... 78

5.4 I3usbands' Occupatioi~sin Laos and in the U.S....................................... 79

6.1 White t Imong Kinshil~T erminology ........................................................ 130

LIS-r
OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1.1 Regional Map of Southeast Asia .............................................................. 2

1.2 Hmong Population by County: 1990. ......................................................4

1.1 IImong Mother and Daughter Doing Laundry at a River......................... 66

5.1 Farm Tools Used by Ilmong Women ...................................................... 87

5.2 Back Baskets Used by Ilmong ................................................................ 88

5.3 Poem Written by Hmong Daughter Informant, May 30, 1992. ................. 115

5.4 Poem Written by Timong Daughter Informant, May 30. 1992. ................ 116