Hmong and American: Negotiating Identity, Community, and Culture

9. Hmong American Professional Identities: An Overview of Generational Changes since the 1970s

Hmong American Professional Identities An Overview of Generational Changes since the 1970s Pao Lor Introduction Since the 1980s, researchers have addressed many aspects of the Hmong American experience. These encompass a broad range of topics including history; religion and culture; education and youth; health, spirituality , and medicine; the Hmong diaspora; and Hmong identity. Against this background, I am interested in the emergence of Hmong American professional identities, a process that is influenced by generation, education , cultural competency, language proficiency, and other aspects of selfformationand socialization.Aprofessional isdefinedasapersonwhosejob requires a certified level of knowledge and training.1 Although variations certainly can be found, three broad categories of Hmong professional identity are evident in the more than thirty years since the initial resettlement of Hmong refugees in the United States: ■ Hmong Immigrant Professionals: born and raised in Laos and educated in Laos or Thailand; fluent in Hmong, Lao, and possibly other languages such as Thai, French, or Vietnamese; possessing a high degree of cultural competency, including a keen awareness of tradition and values shaping family and community life; and holding a strong sense of what it means to be Hmong. ■ Hmong Professionals of 1.5 Generation: born in Laos or Thailand ; arrived in United States as teenagers or at a younger age; received education mainly in the United States; and completed college or technical training. Most are fluent in Hmong and are bicultural in social outlook and adaptability; most also have a strong cultural identity as a Hmong but have adapted well to their new American identity. Pao Lor ■ First-Generation Hmong American Professionals: born in the United States; not necessarily fluent in Hmong (speaking, writing, and reading), but definitely proficient in English. Their connection to the Hmong American community may be limited and their sense of what it means to be Hmong is likely to be much more open ended, not constrained by a firm understanding of tradition. A snapshot of these Hmong professional generations is captured in the census of 2010. However, that census does not offer a complete picture of how these categories have emerged and become distinctive since the 1970s. Here, my intention is to share key characteristics of each generation ofHmongAmericanprofessionals.Inbroadbrushstrokes,Iwillexploreeach generation’sprofessional credentialsandcareers;culturalcompetencyand language proficiency; and the duality of being Hmong and a professional, particularly in terms of responsibilities to family, clan, and community.2 Hmong Immigrant Professionals Hmong immigrant professionals came to the United States as adults in the mid-1970s, 1980s, or 1990s when refugee camps were being closed across Thailand. Their formal educational credentials usually include six years or so of schooling in Laos and Thailand. Some attended postsecondary education and earned degrees or certificates. A handful even studied abroad in Canada, France, Vietnam, and Russia. Their language proficiency includes fluency in Hmong. Many also are fluent in Lao and French. However, even if they had studied English in Laos or Thailand, only a few could speak it well when they arrived in the United States. Before Laos fell to communism in 1975, some held positions as teachers, police officers, electricians, politicians, or business owners in Laos.3 When they arrived in the United States, many Hmong immigrant professionals who were proficient in English began their careers in the public sector as interpreters and case managers for state agencies to help assist new Hmong immigrants in navigating the welfare system, the educational system, and the complexity of urban American life. Eventually, starting from these entry-level professions, some became executive directors for nonprofit organizations that serve the Hmong American community. In addition to these public sector professions, others entered fields such as Hmong American Professional Identities medicine, law, higher education, business management, skilled craftsmanship , and other public service. Because few Hmong immigrant professionals held such prestigious positions,otherHmonghighlyrespectedthemandlookedtothemtoserve as role models for younger Hmong generations. Many became symbols of hope for Hmong in the United States. In their professional capacity, they provided the outlook and reassurance necessary for Hmong Americans to rebuildtheircommunity.Mostimportant,theiremploymentwouldinspire younger Hmong Americans to pursue higher education and become professionals in other disciplines. When committed to making a better life for Hmong Americans, members of this generation are a backbone of community strength. Their Hmong language proficiency and cultural competence are advanced. Whether at professional meetings or at cultural gatherings, they readily can switch between English, Hmong, or Lao. Their English is efficient for carrying out their responsibilities, and in my view, their resolve...