Hmong Essay

Hmong Generational Differences:

This research paper focuses on the identification of the generational differences within the Hmong culture, elucidating generations in America that are considered the major division that identify within the Hmong community appropriately. There are a few distinguishing common, yet complex challenges of living within their culture between the older and younger generations. Based on the studies of psychosocial perspectives today’s modern Hmong group and their distinctive views of socialism, activities and everyday life that affects his or her lifestyle. This essay will cover three important topics: Culture clash between generation of Hmong in America; How traditional culture is still significant in young generations’

(Xiong 11) Most of the older generation Hmong parents that moved to America from Laos or Thailand would agree that the lifestyle in the United States was “too crazy” (Xiong 35). Older generations aren’t familiar with America’s lifestyle because of the lack of monarchy there. They say that the children in the United States have a difficult time raising because they don’t listen due to the barrier that often leads to confusion, and frustration because most of their grandparents speak English and they have a difficult time understanding them. It's the language barrier that also creates a generational gap between older and younger generations of Hmong society. “In Laos and Thailand,” said a grandparent from a series of Zang Xiong’s essays, “if they don’t listen, I would hit them with a stick and they would listen. I usually didn’t do that because the children in those days listen and respect elders. Here in the U.S., I cannot hit them like I used

What had once been a simple life of living among fields of rice and livestock has been replaced with a life dominated by technology and American culture. The Hmong youth have to adapt to both cultures while they cannot escape the traditions in their home environment and having their own identity. Most biculturalism of Hmong youth is expected among the Hmong community and have to deal with the culture clashes. This leads to extreme distress and unhappiness because of maintaining both cultures. Many have to cross cultural code-switch when moving from one cultural environment to the next, purposefully modifying one’s behavior in an interaction in a foreign setting in order to accommodate different cultural norms for appropriate behavior. (Kong Vang