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Continuity and Change in Hmong Gender Values: Mai’s Story to the Present. Wednesday, September 20, 2000. Some business. Papers due Monday in lecture Format of papers: Reports to Medical Center and to Southeast Asia Center Reading guides being distributed now Website
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Continuity and Change in Hmong Gender Values:Mai’s Story to the Present Wednesday, September 20, 2000
Some business • Papers due Monday in lecture • Format of papers: Reports to Medical Center and to Southeast Asia Center • Reading guides being distributed now • Website • Alert about Twilight Years xerox in your Course Reader
Mai’s mother’s proposal • Her proposal • the guy in Minneapolis • Her pointed plea • Mai wasn’t getting any younger • Invoking education as a burden • For the sake of the kids...
What did Mai say? • Did she simply say “no way”?
Mai’s reply • She started to weep quietly but with an air of desperation. • Mai’s mother was worried. What was wrong? • Mai said: “Mom, I don’t think he is a nice guy. I think he will be a tyrant at home.” • What Hmong traditions was Mai relying on here?
Hmong traditions tapped into by Mai • Respect for elder • Right to have opinion on specific men heard (while not challenging right of parents to determine final choice) • Veiled threat of other possibilities: • suicide • elopement with unapproved man • embarrassing her family by playing the inept woman • being unavailable for communication
The deal • Mai’s mother: OK, won’t coerce. Won’t tell dad. • BUT: Mai would have to drop this guy in Oswego. • AND: she could take the time she wanted to marry • BUT: she would have to marry a Hmong • What did Mai say?
Mai’s reply and feeling • Mai: OK. First priority would be to find a Hmong man. She promised to stop seeing the Oswego guy. • But she would seek one out who would treat her more equally at home, even if she conformed to certain traditions. • AND: the man she chose would not stand in the way of her education and career.
Change and continuity • What has stayed the same? • What has changed? • What do you think will happen?
Film clip • What is the difference between how the young women and the young man feel about gender inequality? • Do you have the feeling that the women are ready to challenge the perspective of the man? Why or why not? • What does this short clip suggest to you about the prospects for cultural change around gender among the Hmong?