Gap in equality of gender
exists in many countries and cultures around the world. In the Hmong culture, gender relations exist
from the moment of birth. Access to
education is the key to economic progress for Hmong families regardless of
which country they reside in.
This following was taken from
a paper written by Peng Xuefang, “Sociocultural
Perspectives on Gender Relations of the Hmong in Thailand”.
The Hmong gender relations and traditional culture are inseparable. In Hmong traditional society, gender
inequality begins at birth with the burial of the placenta. The burial of placentas signifies the distinction between the males and
females. Men are
considered superior to women. For a traditional
Hmong woman, her value lies in being a good girl, a good wife, a good mother
and mother-in-law, and a good grandmother. To meet these demands, the traditional Hmong
women are faced with many social requisites, including those from the family,
clan, and village. Meanwhile, the Hmong
women have a limited voice in the affairs of their society outside of the
responsibilities in the home, and consequently, limited power in
decision-making. The
Hmong women’s disadvantage was often associated with their lack of
education. Hence, the best way to improve
gender equality was to raise the women’s educational level.
“The status
of women has been assessed by measures of economic security, educational
opportunities, access to birth control and medical care, degree of
self-determination, participation in public and political life, power to make
decision in the family, and physical safety” (Wade and Tavris, 1999:18). Since the traditional
subsistence economy of the Hmong has undergone
changes, factors such as education, information, new kinds of crops, and a
strong engagement with the market economy have transformed the Hmong way of
earning a living. The Hmong women are no longer restricted within the
private sphere of family. They are now actively involved in business and play an
important role in economic development. They also participate in
decision-making in the family and community.
However, the bargaining power of each woman varies
because of different conditions. For
illiterate women, they might not think much about power, but rather emphasize
traditional gender ideologies or moral norms concerning gender relations. Their status has not changed much, since
power and control remains mostly in their husbands' hands. For educated younger women, their social
status is undergoing a great change since they have brought home new concepts regarding
gender roles. It is apparent that women’s
education and related income-earnings help improve gender equity.
Although the Hmong have retained many aspects of their identity and culture,
it is inevitable that changing
gender roles may become points of conflict between the men and women, and
between the generations. However, the modern Hmong woman appears to be
integrating, with some success, their choices and roles in many areas,
including marriage, family, economic activities, and education. At the same time they are gaining some power
over decision-making within the family and community. These changes are leading to greater gender
equality for the Hmong.
