Describes critical components of Hmong culture influencing the daily lives of Hmong children torn between conflicting cultures. The Hmong are involuntary refugees in the United States in that most families would have preferred returning to Laos or staying in Thailand, but those countries were unwilling or unable to resettle them. Adaptation to the U.S. has been particularly difficult for these simple, agrarian people, and many families are highly dependent on public assistance. The main organizing principle of Hmong life is the extended family unit known as the clan; the clan serves as a psychological and sociological indicator of belonging and forum for problem solving. The centrality of the family in matters of marriage, childrearing, and discipline; beliefs about physical and mental illness rooted in the supernatural; and children’s hidden feelings of isolation and confusion are all discussed. Hmong children straddle the modern American culture, which emphasizes individualism and independence, and their traditional culture, which upholds group loyalty and familial interdependence. Teachers, social workers, psychologists, and health care providers need a thorough understanding of Hmong culture if they are to address sensitively the needs of Hmong children and offer creative outlets for the expression of anger and depression.
