Uncovering my Research

03/01/2023

MY RATIONALE

As a person of color, I know very well how marginalized people are currently oppressed by systems of power. One of these systems of power is education. I wanted to investigate education and how it affects Hmong women. After doing reading peer reviewed articles on this topic, I realized that I want to know more about Hmong patriarchy and how it affects Hmong women pursuing their undergraduate degrees. As of now, my research is known as Hmong Patriarchy: Hmong Women’s Educational Experiences. There are many research articles that I have read in regard to Hmong education; however, there were none that I could find that talked about Hmong Patriarchy. This educational gap motivated me to settle on my research topic. There are so many questions that I want answered, such as “Is the patriarchy limiting women?” and “Is the patriarchy pushing women to be successful?”.

POSITIONALITY WITH MY RESEARCH

As a straight cisgender Hmong male, I know that within the Hmong community I am not currently oppressed when compared to straight cisgender Hmong women. I have seen that Hmong women are also oppressed in the dominant white culture, and this intersectionality is also a factor in patriarchy. What I have seen in my community is that most of the time, if not all, Hmong Women would eat after Hmong men at a gathering, and ceremonial events. I would question these patterns, but my elders would shut it down with very patronizing statements. At events and gatherings, I would see Hmong women be the ones who cook and clean. While Hmong women are cooking and cleaning, Hmong men goes and grab a bottle of alcohol and talk with other Hmong men. Of course, this is not to say that Hmong men do not work. Hmong men have duties such as giving thanks to the elders, knowing certain procedures and traditions, and butchering large animals such as pigs. I have seen Hmong men and women attend to their duties. What I want to know is why are Hmong women not valued as much as Hmong men? As I acknowledge my intersectional identities, I know that I am speaking from a privileged place within my straight cis male presentation. I do not have the intention of speaking to Hmong women’s experiences, degrading Hmong traditions, and culture. I want to understand and preserve my culture while letting go of the demeaning, devaluing, and dehumanizing treatment of Hmong women.