Patriarchy

The Hmong community, believe it or not, is a patriarchal society. Meaning, men dominate the women. Look at it how you want, but it's the truth.

I don't like patriarchy, in fact, I hate it.

I hate that men think that they have power over women, I hate that they think they have the right to disrespect us because we are different, or don't have balls.

Why? Didn't God make us equal?

But then again, even some Christians will say that men are more worthy than women.

I hate that some Hmong men still think it's ok to treat women with disrespect, treat her lower than dirt, and judge us like we don't belong or are unequal to them. Not all Hmong men are like this, but for those who are, I hope they learn that their way of thinking is wrong.

It is hard to switch someone's way of thinking, if it's something they have been taught ever since the day they were born, from the colors of clothing they wear, to the chores they do in the house.

Be open about it, look at it from a women's perspective, and I'm more than sure that we (women) look at it from the men's perspective too.

The bf always tries to make things equal, he never wants me to think that I am less than a guy or him. When I'm cooking, he cooks with me, when I'm washing the dishes, he's on the other side helping me. We do laundry together, just about everything together. He treats me with equality.

I don't know where he gets it from, his way of thinking that is, but I like it. I like that he can tell from right and wrong, how to treat a woman, and how to respect us even though we are different.

All men should be like that!

I hope that the Hmong men that are being born will not turn out to be brainwashed into the patriarchal society that we have, (not only Hmong society, American society, pretty much every society).

Let's try to stop that from happening, by educating them!

Burden

I feel like being a woman in the Hmong society is more difficult than being a man.

You get less opportunities and more responsibilities.

I am so stressed, the men in my family are being so immature. Not stepping up and being what they are supposed to, or being there when my parents need them most.

I am so sad that I am so far away, I have to try to work things out even though I'm millions of miles away. I can't wait to go home and fix things and make it all better, so my parents will appreciate the girls more and stop expecting from those who can't attend to their needs.

I'm tired of being treated like a kid, I am a grown up now and just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't do things that the Hmong society expects me to. I am so much better than those men, I can prove myself and have gone so much further than they have.

Don't worry niam tias txiv, I am here to help you!

I Love Being Hmong

Being Hmong has given me a huge outlook on life, or just a different look at life and the world.

I listen to our language and it's really different from any other language out there, someone asked me, what is Hmong language like, and I had no answer to it. We are just that unique and different.

I am so proud to be Hmong, the struggles that we have gone through, and the accomplishments we have come to are great.

I love the Hmong songs that we have, some are so inspiring and touching that I am so thankful to be who I am and thankful that I can understand what these songs are saying because they have so much meaning to them. The way it's being sung, the way it's being said, and the words itself has so much meaning. Take the song by Bao Her called Tus Kuv Hlub Tshaj! That song is so great, I love it. I love the original more than any other version.

Hmong!!!!

Thank you God for making me who I am, and thankful for my family and friends. I can not thank you enough for everything in my life! I am so proud to be who I am and have accomplished what I have. Thank You!