The Identity of Hmong Ethnic Women : A case Study Biography

Abstract

          The purpose of this study is to study the experiences and biography of Hmong women. It aims to analyze the process of identity formation and identity by studying Thai social factors, Hmong social factors, and women characteristics that affect the way of life of Hmong women. The study focuses through education, interaction, culture, traditions and beliefs of the Hmong.

           The results showed that Thai identity has a process through policy development. State education has a policy to assimilate into Thai through the development of various forms, such as education, social culture, and education such as Naming in Thai, because the men have to contact with the government sector, and they adopt many new cultures as well. So, all of these, they show Hmong’s cultures can be flexible too. For example, Thai classical dance students were assimilated and preserved the national heritage, the originality and the uniqueness of Thailand directly.

          The identity of Hmong women has created the identity as a woman through the social structure, beliefs, rituals, language and socialization to control the behavior of people in society especially women characteristics. Good woman characteristics must work hard, be patient, and be good at embroidery. The study found that the status of women is lower than men. It is found from the social structure because men can reach a maximum power of God. Men hold the central authority. It means a source of knowledge. Men can learn and exchange experience. Meanwhile, women are out of power and knowledge, which is consistent with the concept of male-dominated system. There are efforts to create a variety of different identities by institutions in a patriarchal society. Both Thai society and Hmong society is a complex process. The social, economic, and cultural contexts are changed. As a reflection of the lives of Hmong women in this evaluation, the identity was sometimes conflict with the identity of the women. As a result, women are torn and flow identities.

          The identity of the study is in the line with the opposition, bargain and interaction with a lot of cultures. As a result, the study preaches the identity like they are living.