Publication Date

Fall 2017

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Justice Studies

Advisor

Sang H. Kil

Subject Areas

Asian American studies

Abstract

The historical background of the Hmong ethnic group and immigration in regards to how the emergence of the American identity has impacted their cultural identity is examined in this thesis. A qualitative study was conducted to better understand the impacts of immigration and the reasons that younger generations have pushed to be one with the American identity. Drawing upon 10 in-depth interviews of second-generation children of Hmong immigrants, the findings show that the Hmong identity has lost its preservation through the Hmong ethnic group’s experiences in the United States. The researcher found that the American identity affects the Hmong cultural identity in terms of assimilation because of the lac¬k of historical recognition, racial tensions, conflicts between older and younger generations, and being American born. Immigration has caused the Hmong people to lose their identity because the demands placed upon them by the new host country. The emergence of the American identity is problematic due to the fear of becoming an unknown race as younger generations fail to preserve the Hmong identity.

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