Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Explain how culture affects one’s perception of health and illness
The changes of Hmong culture
The changes of Hmong culture
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
1. What are the most important aspects of Hmong culture? What do the Hmong consider their most important duties and obligations? How did they affect the Hmong’s transition to the United States?
One of the most important aspects of Hmong culture is the group and family dynamic. The Hmong considered farming their most important duty because it was a major source of income when they were in Laos. The story regarding the Hmong family who attempted to grow vegetables inside their second story apartment was an example of this (Fadiman, 1997, p. 226). The Hmong found the transition difficult since the thing they knew best, farming, was taken away from them. Thus, they were forced to fit into roles that were foreign to them.
2. What does Dan Murphy
…show more content…
It is clear that many of Lia's doctors, most notably Neil Ernst and Peggy Philp, were heroic in their efforts to help Lia, and that her parents cared for her deeply, yet this arguably preventable tragedy still occurred. Can you think of anything that might have prevented it?
There are certain aspects that may have provided better treatment, but probably could not have prevented the tragedy. Clear communication and understanding for the culture were essential aspects that were lacking during her treatment. Additionally, the presence of a questionnaire like the one developed by Arthur Kleinman would have bridged the gap between the patient and the provider (Fadiman, 1997, p. 260).
4. What did you learn from this book? Would you assign blame for Lia's tragedy? If so, to whom? What do you think Anne Fadiman feels about this question?
I learned about the diverse cultures present in today’s society. It is very easy to ignore the beliefs that do not perfectly align with our own. This book addresses that issue very well. I would not blame anyone for Lia’s tragedy. I believe that she was just a victim of her circumstances. Although it could have been handled in a better fashion, it is not anyone’s fault that there were language and cultural barriers. Anne Fadiman seemed unbiased and probably feels the same way about this
In The Latehomecomer, by Kao Kalia Yang shares her story and the story of her family’s search for a home and identity. Her family’s story voices the story of the Hmong people and their plight. From every stage of their journey, from the mountainous jungles of Southeast Asia to the freezing winter of Minnesota, Yang and the Hmong were compelled to redefine their identity, willingly or unwillingly. While growing up, Yang’s parents would often ask her, “’What are you?’ and the right answer was always, ‘I am Hmong.’” (Yang, 1) For “Hmong” to be the right answer, then what does it mean to be “Hmong”? From the personal story shared by Yang, and the universal story of the Hmong people, the Hmong identity cannot be contained in
I thought it would be an interesting idea to enlighten and inform people about the Lao Iu Mein and our process of immigrating to the U.S. as well as the challenges we have to overcome. I interviewed my parents, Lao Iu Mein refugees who immigrated to the United States from Thailand. Through this interview, I had a chance to hear for the first time the story of my parents' struggles and experiences as they journeyed to a place where they became "aliens" and how that place is now the place they call "home."
In a quest for family entertainment, many seek an educational experience as well. With so many choices, no one wants to waste their leisure time and money on a disappointing venture. The Chickasaw Nation Cultural Center achieves what few other venues can. Here, Native Americans envelope you on a journey of the Chickasaw people, both past and present day. From the moment you step on the impeccably landscaped grounds, you begin to feel as one with their people. Expect to be immersed into the cultures of the Chickasaw Nation, through expressive storytelling, traditional song and dance, native arts, recreated customary villages, native cuisine and historical movies in the jaw dropping, two story Anoli
The Hmong people, an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam and Laos, greatly value their culture and traditions. The film “The Split Horn: Life of a Hmong Shaman in America” documents the seventeen year journey of the Hmong Shaman, Paja Thao and his family from the mountains of Laos to the heartland of America. This film shows the struggle of Paja Thao to maintain their 5000 year-old shamanic traditions as his children embrace the American culture. Moreover, the film shows that one of the major problems refugees like Paja Thao and his family face upon their arrival to the United States is conflict with the American medical system. Despite the dominant biomedical model of health, the film “The Split Horn” shows that
The Asian American history is the history of the ethnic and racial groups in the United States who are of Asian descent. Spickard (2007) shows that the "'Asian American' was an idea created in the 1960s to bring together the Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino Americans for a strategic and political purposes.
The Hmong refugees that fled from such countries as Vietnam, Laos and Thailand had some trouble adapting to the American culture. An arriving refugee and his family would probably have sold all of their worldly possessions so they could have enough money to live off of until the father got a job or the mother was able to produce some textile goods to sell. In Southeast Asia, The Hmong lived high in the mountains. The Hmong men tended to be farmers, while the women would stay in the village and tend to the household needs while also helping with the crops. They grew all of their own food, and had no farm machinery to aid in the reaping of their crop. There was also no form of transportation except walking. This was very hard labor, so the Hmong needed a lot of help to grow food, everyone in the family helped in the household chores and working the land.
Throughout ancient history, many indigenous tribes and cultures have shown a common trait of being hunter/gatherer societies, relying solely on what nature had to offer. The geographical location influenced all aspects of tribal life including, spirituality, healing philosophy and healing practices. Despite vast differences in the geographical location, reports show various similarities relating to the spirituality, healing philosophy and healing practices of indigenous tribal cultures.
The Hmong people use popular music to teach about their new life and the life of their ancestors. They talk about the culture that was left behind and the new culture they have established here in the United States. The Hmong merge the visions of the young with that of the old. The popular music that the Hmong use was born in refugee camps in Thailand. The popular music that the Hmong young musicians are inspired by had its roots in the 1970’s and has become a part of their culture and tradition. This music is a combination of Asian and Western music and incorporates themes of loneliness and longing. The song writers write about the homeland of their ancestors that was lost to China. They also write about the customs and rituals that were then and are now. They want to preserve the history by recording it in music. The lyrics speak of love and unity amongst all Hmong communities.
Hmong parents feared that their children would forget and abandon the values of the culture and traditions that has been in the Hmong communities for many generations (Lee et al., 2009). Therefore, Hmong parents became stricter on their children as a way to cope with their worries (Lee et al., 2009; Supple & Small, 2006). Hmong parental control over their children came in forms of one-way communication from the parent to the children, controlling their children’s behavior, monitoring their children’s activities, restricting their children’s freedom, verbal warnings, and physical punishment (Lee & Green, 2008; Pang, 1997; A. Supple et al., 2010; A. Supple & Small, 2006; Xiong et al., 2005). Although Hmong parents saw this as a way to protect their children and preserve their culture values and traditional practices, Hmong students perceived authoritarian parenting as being presumptuous (Supple et al., 2010). Hmong students found it difficult to understand the desire for parental control and the value for wanting to retain the Hmong culture since they are now living in the United States (Supple et al., 2010).
During her multiple visits to the hospital, different kinds of medicine would be prescribed to treat her seizures. However, the medicines were always prescribed and instructed in English instead of the traditional Hmong language. Lia’s parents Nao Kao and Foua did not speak or read English, therefore they did not understand the instructions for dosage, as well as the need for follow up appointments (Page 26). In one instance, when Lia was four and a half, she was prescribed a plethora of drugs “Tylenol, ampicillin, amoxicillin, Dilanatin, Ceclor, Tegetrol, Depakene..etc”, the problem with this was not only the language in which the drugs were prescribed in, the dosages were varied and constantly changed as well (Page 46). Furthermore, not only did some drugs required to be given a specific time, some drugs were required to be administered if Lia had a temperature (thus requiring a thermometer reading). This form of treatment, in which the doctors at MCMC assumed would be followed by Lia’s parents backfired because neither of the parents understood what the labels said, nor could they use basic medical instruments such as a thermometer, medicine dropper or measuring spoon (Page 47). The problem with not understanding how to administer the medication lead Dr. Peggy to assume that medication administration was not being followed due to cultural barriers as well as comprehension of defects of intelligence (not understanding the labels etc). The language barrier needed to be lowered to increase the effectiveness of the medication that was being prescribed, as well as improve the parent-doctor
The Polynesian peoples have a lifestyle quite different than that of any other culture, as living on an island requires a level of flexible adaptability in order to cope with such a different, sometimes difficult environment. We see the way diverse cultures build their lives around their circumstances and how they respect them in their cultural myths and stories. The Polynesian legends emphasize the physical environment that they live in. They are quite different than any other region in the world, but the beauty and individuality of the Polynesian culture is prominent as seen in their mythology.
Within this critical analysis, I hope to show that the lack of communication and compromise between the Hmong family and the American doctors, was the defining blow to Lia’s ill health. I hope to do this by addressing the following three main points of interest in relation to this miscommunication; the views held by the American healthcare professions on the causes of Lia’s illness, contrasted with the opinions of Lia’s parents. I will then discuss the health-seeking strategies of Lia’s parents and how they were influenced by different resou...
The lights dimmed. You could see everyone raising their hands while closing their eyes. In this moment, there was only silence. Each person keeping still. Tears running down the faces of the ones who have been touched. Touched not physically, but touched emotionally in the soul. In this moment there was no fear, there was only strength. Standing and gazing over all the people who were singing, I led them in praise and worship. For many years throughout my highschool career, I’ve led my youth and church through many worships noticing how each and every individual grows and prospers to enhance their fullest potentials. Leading through my voice has strengthen my voice. My voice has grown from a child to a young adults. Leading a group in my church through my voice has not always been easy though, but the ending reward of knowing what I have accomplished in aiding those who need the help is fulfilling.
Kao Kalia Yang’s autobiographical novel, The Latehomecomer chronicles the journey of a Hmong refugee family as they flee from the jungles of Laos to Thailand refugee camps and the processes of transition and assimilation in the United States. Yang explains that as she becomes aware of her cultural heritage she is motivated to preserve the endangered stories of the Hmong people. Her grandmother serves as the author’s largest resource, but the memoir also includes recollections from other family members as they recount the arduous and horrific odyssey of a Hmong refugee. Terrifying descriptions of escape from Vietcong soldiers, the atrocious conditions of refugee camps, transit to the United States, and experiences as first-generation immigrants help to inform our understanding of Hmong in the twentieth-century.
The Minangkabau culture is very distinct, in that they are commonly known for having the “largest and most stable matrilineal society in the world”. (Golden, 151). The Minangkabau have more than four million people who reside in West Sumatra (Stark, 1) area and have a well-established trading system with other parts of Indonesia. They are a great contributor to the trading system and have been able to influence others with their culture. Even with having a matrilineal system, it is the males who take the chief role in the society. The male’s role is another reason why the commercial industry is so successful. In the end it is adat that governs the Minangkabau culture.