Chapter 10 notes of Helen Zia's Asian American Dreams book. One of the designated chapter books for UCI's Asian American Communities course (AsianAm52).
Chapter 10: “Reinventing Our Culture”
● Acculturation: cultural modification of an individual, group, or people by adapting to or
borrowing traits from another culture the acculturation of immigrants to American life;
also : a merging of cultures as a result of prolonged contact.
● The CIA promised Hmong soldiers and families resettlement if the US was defeated in
the Secret war in Laos. 140k Hmong and Lao fled to Thailand where they lived in
refugee camps for years. Those who came to the US dispersed where sponsors, “mostly
church-related charities, accepted them.” (257)
● Compared to Vietnamese counterparts, Hmong were farmers and fishers of the “rural
mountains of Laos,” a majority of them entering the US were illiterate w/ few skills in the
American economy.-> became the poorest of all Asianam ethnicities by 1989.
● Traditional marriage in Hmong culture clashed with American law. If Hmong girl did not
agree to her suitor, “he could kidnap her, and once he paid the bride price to her family,
she was considered his wife.” (258) Girls as young as 12-13 were considered
marriageable.
● In America, many Asianam immigrant women must also work to support their families. It
challenges the traditional gender roles of the Laotian clan system, creating problems in
the home- such as domestic violence. Hmong community unfortunately disapproves of
those who seek help, b/c it is “taboo to talk about outside the clan.” (261) The act of
“airing out the dirty laundry,” or speaking up against family/community problems
is prohibited even among the Hmong people.
● 140k Korean adoptees came into the US after the end of the Korean War in 1953.
● “Hapas- mixed race children of interracial couples” (267) are also an emerging Asianam
group, making a name for themselves as artists in American media. Stigmatized as
a”double minority,” usually not recognized by the Asianam community.
● Asianam artists helped build a Pan-Asian culture, yet some producers/curators/critics
didn’t value their art as much as an Asian national’s art; saw their work as corrupted by a
“Western influence.” (270) Lack of support from the Asianam community stems from
their lack of ‘Pan-Asianness’. Many still identify mainly with their own ethnicity, rather
than an Asianam.
○ That is why Asianam artists cannot solely rely on the Asianam audience; to
thrive, it is “imperative that we communicate who we are to a wider American
audience,” accepting the risk that they might misinterpret the artist’s expression.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller PrinceAlixD. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $2.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
