Culture Table

Instructions:Complete the following table for your chosen culture. Be sure to cite and reference necessary sources according to APA format, using the last page for your reference list.

Name: _ Nancy Nurse ______________________________________________

Chosen Culture: ___ Hmong ______________________________________________

General Overview of Chosen Culture

The Hmong cultural group resides in the mountainous regions of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and China. According to Stuart, Cherry, and Stuart (2011), “there are approximately four to five million Hmong, with about three million living in China” (p. 89). While geographically located on the continent of Asia, this culture is very unique and different from other Asian cultures. The Hmong language is very expressive and comprised of two main dialects: Green Hmong and the more common, White Hmong (Owens, 2007). About 60% of the estimated 300,000 Hmong population living in the United States speak fluent English (Stuart et al., 2011, p. 90).

Stuart et al. (2011) describe Hmong families as large, with the oldest male considered to be the head of the household and decision-maker for the entire family unit. Stuart et al. also reported that marriages are often arranged, divorce is generally not accepted, and the elderly remain living with family members their entire lives. Owens (2007) reports that Hmong males are considered to have higher status than females, and it is common for wealthier men to have several wives. According to Owens, the people of this culture identify themselves according to a social structure involving clans, and typically marry outside of their own clan.

The diet of this culture is predominantly rice, noodles, vegetables and cooked or boiled meat (Stuart et al., 2011). Animal sacrifice is a common ritual practiced by the Hmong, and provides meat for spiritual meals and rituals for healing (Stuart et al., 2011).

The spirituality and religious practices of the Hmong culture seem to vary among the family lineages and are passed from one generation to another through oral tradition (Owens, 2007). Traditionally, Hmong people are polytheistic and practice animism, a belief that spirits inhabit inanimate objects (Owens, 2007). They believe that Shamans communicate with spirits that are able to give guidance on health and healing (Owens, 2007; Stuart et al., 2011). Stuart et al. (2011) report that most believe in reincarnation and that ancestral spirits return through births of new family members.“Almost all aspects of traditional Hmong life are affected by contact with supernatural beings” (Owens, 2007, Religious Life Section, para. 4). Owens (2007) reports that people of this culture perform many rituals for the purpose of accomplishing the will of the ancestors and natural spirits. If the ancestors are pleased, protection of the believer’s descendants from illness and natural disasters will result (Owens 2007).

The Hmong people prefer to communicate with others of the same gender, avoid direct eye contact (considered rude), and do not tend to trust translators or interpreters (Stuart et al., 2011). It is common for older people within this culture to not be able to read or write any language, including their own (Stuart et al., 2011). Owens (2007) states that Hmong patients may respond with “yes” even when they disagree with what is being said to them.

Common physical conditions associated with this culture are asthma, respiratory disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity (Stuart et al., 2011). Owens (2007) reports the frequent use of herbal remedies and healing rituals performed by Shamans to address physical and mental symptoms