HMONG STUDIES NEWSLETTER, Fall 2014
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION: The Hmong Studies Newsletter has since 2001 provided a very consistent source of up-to-date information about new works in Hmong Studies and Hmong-related research resources. To access back issues of this online publication dating back to 2001 visit: http://www.hmongstudiesjournal.org/hmong-studies-newsletter.html
Hmong Studies Newsletter Editor: Mark E. Pfeifer, PhD
ABOUT THE HMONG STUDIES INTERNET RESOURCE CENTER:
The Hmong Studies Internet Resource Center (www.hmongstudies.org) is the online home of the Hmong Studies Journal academic journal. This unique scholarly site also contains extensive bibliographies in Hmong Studies as well as census data and an online research paper library.
Many of the Hmong Studies articles, books and dissertations listed in this newsletter and on the website may be found at the Hmong Resource Center Library (www.hmonglibrary.org) at the Hmong Cultural Center in Saint Paul, the largest depository of Hmong Studies academic journal articles and graduate theses and dissertations in the United States.
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION: The Hmong Studies Newsletter has since 2001 provided a very consistent source of up-to-date information about new works in Hmong Studies and Hmong-related research resources. To access back issues of this online publication dating back to 2001 visit: http://www.hmongstudiesjournal.org/hmong-studies-newsletter.html
Hmong Studies Newsletter Editor: Mark E. Pfeifer, PhD
ABOUT THE HMONG STUDIES INTERNET RESOURCE CENTER:
The Hmong Studies Internet Resource Center (www.hmongstudies.org) is the online home of the Hmong Studies Journal academic journal. This unique scholarly site also contains extensive bibliographies in Hmong Studies as well as census data and an online research paper library.
Many of the Hmong Studies articles, books and dissertations listed in this newsletter and on the website may be found at the Hmong Resource Center Library (www.hmonglibrary.org) at the Hmong Cultural Center in Saint Paul, the largest depository of Hmong Studies academic journal articles and graduate theses and dissertations in the United States.
NEW WORKS IN HMONG STUDIES:
Books/Theses/Reports
Martha Bloomfield. (2014). Hmong Americans in Michigan. Lansing: Michigan State University. This short monograph provides an overview of the Hmong American experience in Michigan. More information is available here: http://msupress.org/books/book/?id=50-1D0-3459#.VFaj8_nF-So
Academic Journal Articles/Other
Diana J. Burgess, et al. (2014). "Culture, acculturation and smoking use in Hmong, Khmer, Laotians, and Vietnamese communities in Minnesota." BMC Public Health, 14, Published Online. This study assesses how tobacco use patterns in Minnesota’s Southeast Asian communities have been shaped by culture, immigration, and adjustment to life in America in order to inform future tobacco control strategies.
Tracy Carpenter-Aeby, Doaw Xiong & Victor G. Aeby. (2014). "Comparing the Health Locus of Control among Caucasian and Hmong College Students." Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 24(5): 635-642. This study compares the health locus of control among Hmong and Caucasian students in Western North Carolina using the Multi-Dimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. College students participated anonymously by email and social media utilizing a web-based survey.
Tracy Carpenter-Aeby, Victor G. Aeby, Shauna Daniels & Doaw Xiong. (2014). "From Detention Camps of Thailand to Freedom in the Foothills of North Carolina: One Family’s Remarkable Story." Journal of Family Social Work, 17(4) 363-378. This article examines one family’s efforts to preserve the oral history of the Hmong culture and to promote understanding across generations and community members from different cultural backgrounds.
Meaghan Gartner, Lisa Kiang and Andrew Supple. (2014). "Prospective Links Between Ethnic Socialization, Ethnic and American Identity, and Well-Being Among Asian-American Adolescents." Journal of Youth and Adolescence 43:1715–1727. This study assesses the relationship between socialization, ethnic identity and American identity, self-esteem and depressive symptoms among Asian-American adolescents including Hmong.
Jeremy Hein. (2014). "The Urban Ethnic Community and Collective Action: Politics, Protest, and Civic Engagement by Hmong Americans in Minneapolis-St. Paul." City and Community 13(2): 119-139. This paper examines political, social movement, and civic collective action of Hmong Americans in Minneapolis-St. Paul through a content analysis of events reported in one of the community’s ethnic newspapers from 2002 to 2011.
Jeremy Hein & Nengher Vang. (2014). "Politicians and Social Movements: The Impact of Electoral Victory on Local, National, and Transnational Activism by Hmong Americans in Minneapolis–St. Paul." Social Movement Studies: Journal of Social, Cultural and Political Protest, Published Online. This paper investigates the impact of two elected Hmong American officials in Minnesota on social movement campaigns in their community during their time in office. The researchers used content analysis of newspaper reports to create a sample of nine local, national, and transnational social movement campaigns in the community; and assess the ways the elected officials supported the campaigns.
Jacob R Hickman. (2014). "Ancestral Personhood and Moral Justification." Anthropological Theory 14(3) 317–335.
The author of this article assesses the theoretical relationship between the concepts of morality and personhood with an emphasis on an exegesis of a Hmong model of ancestral personhood and its relationship to moral discourse.
Laurie L. Meschke and Christina R. Peter. (2014). "Hmong American Parents’ Views on Promoting Adolescent Sexual Health." American Journal of Sexuality Education 9(3): 308-328. The authors of this study examined Hmong American parents’ attitudes about adolescent sexual health using survey data from 202 parents of adolescents with particular attention given to parental gender differences in attitudes.
Annie L. Nguyen & David W. Seal. (2014). "Cross-Cultural Comparison of Successful AgingDefinitions Between Chinese and Hmong Elders in the United States." Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 29:153–171. This study investigated the definitions of successful aging according to Chinese and Hmong elders living in Milwaukee, WI. The authors' findings indicated some similarities in the Chinese and Hmong elders’ definitions though specific cultural differences exist.
Louisa Schein & Bee Vang. (2014) "The Unbearable Racedness of being Natural: A Dialogue on the Gran Torino Production between Lead Actor Bee Vang and Louisa Schein." Cultural Studies, 28(4): 561-573. This article involves a dialogue between actor Bee Vang and anthropologist Louisa Schein. The authors discuss the dynamics by which the contemporary racial order is engendered and reproduced through the micropractices of film production from casting, to on set, to the reception of the resulting film text and also reflect on insights they have gathered from two years of collaboration.
Adam Sposato. (2014). "Word order in Miao-Yao (Hmong-Mien)." Linguistic Typology 18(1): 83-140. Relying primarily on recently published Chinese descriptions, the author of this article presents data on fourteen word order features for eleven Miao-Yao languages for use in large-scale typological studies. The article also discusses two typologically unusual word order feature values which have been claimed to be largely or entirely restricted to Sinitic, but which are actually also commonly observed in Miao-Yao.
Nicholas Tapp. (2014). "Religious Issues in China's Rural Development: The Importance of Ethnic Minorities." The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, 15(5): 433-452. This author of this paper considers Chinese religion in relation to the changing nature of rural society and modernization in China. The author also includes aspects of ethnic minority religion and its renewal with reference to the ethnography of the Hmong, to show that minority religious issues can also reflect broader religious issues in China.
Books/Theses/Reports
Martha Bloomfield. (2014). Hmong Americans in Michigan. Lansing: Michigan State University. This short monograph provides an overview of the Hmong American experience in Michigan. More information is available here: http://msupress.org/books/book/?id=50-1D0-3459#.VFaj8_nF-So
Academic Journal Articles/Other
Diana J. Burgess, et al. (2014). "Culture, acculturation and smoking use in Hmong, Khmer, Laotians, and Vietnamese communities in Minnesota." BMC Public Health, 14, Published Online. This study assesses how tobacco use patterns in Minnesota’s Southeast Asian communities have been shaped by culture, immigration, and adjustment to life in America in order to inform future tobacco control strategies.
Tracy Carpenter-Aeby, Doaw Xiong & Victor G. Aeby. (2014). "Comparing the Health Locus of Control among Caucasian and Hmong College Students." Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 24(5): 635-642. This study compares the health locus of control among Hmong and Caucasian students in Western North Carolina using the Multi-Dimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. College students participated anonymously by email and social media utilizing a web-based survey.
Tracy Carpenter-Aeby, Victor G. Aeby, Shauna Daniels & Doaw Xiong. (2014). "From Detention Camps of Thailand to Freedom in the Foothills of North Carolina: One Family’s Remarkable Story." Journal of Family Social Work, 17(4) 363-378. This article examines one family’s efforts to preserve the oral history of the Hmong culture and to promote understanding across generations and community members from different cultural backgrounds.
Meaghan Gartner, Lisa Kiang and Andrew Supple. (2014). "Prospective Links Between Ethnic Socialization, Ethnic and American Identity, and Well-Being Among Asian-American Adolescents." Journal of Youth and Adolescence 43:1715–1727. This study assesses the relationship between socialization, ethnic identity and American identity, self-esteem and depressive symptoms among Asian-American adolescents including Hmong.
Jeremy Hein. (2014). "The Urban Ethnic Community and Collective Action: Politics, Protest, and Civic Engagement by Hmong Americans in Minneapolis-St. Paul." City and Community 13(2): 119-139. This paper examines political, social movement, and civic collective action of Hmong Americans in Minneapolis-St. Paul through a content analysis of events reported in one of the community’s ethnic newspapers from 2002 to 2011.
Jeremy Hein & Nengher Vang. (2014). "Politicians and Social Movements: The Impact of Electoral Victory on Local, National, and Transnational Activism by Hmong Americans in Minneapolis–St. Paul." Social Movement Studies: Journal of Social, Cultural and Political Protest, Published Online. This paper investigates the impact of two elected Hmong American officials in Minnesota on social movement campaigns in their community during their time in office. The researchers used content analysis of newspaper reports to create a sample of nine local, national, and transnational social movement campaigns in the community; and assess the ways the elected officials supported the campaigns.
Jacob R Hickman. (2014). "Ancestral Personhood and Moral Justification." Anthropological Theory 14(3) 317–335.
The author of this article assesses the theoretical relationship between the concepts of morality and personhood with an emphasis on an exegesis of a Hmong model of ancestral personhood and its relationship to moral discourse.
Laurie L. Meschke and Christina R. Peter. (2014). "Hmong American Parents’ Views on Promoting Adolescent Sexual Health." American Journal of Sexuality Education 9(3): 308-328. The authors of this study examined Hmong American parents’ attitudes about adolescent sexual health using survey data from 202 parents of adolescents with particular attention given to parental gender differences in attitudes.
Annie L. Nguyen & David W. Seal. (2014). "Cross-Cultural Comparison of Successful AgingDefinitions Between Chinese and Hmong Elders in the United States." Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 29:153–171. This study investigated the definitions of successful aging according to Chinese and Hmong elders living in Milwaukee, WI. The authors' findings indicated some similarities in the Chinese and Hmong elders’ definitions though specific cultural differences exist.
Louisa Schein & Bee Vang. (2014) "The Unbearable Racedness of being Natural: A Dialogue on the Gran Torino Production between Lead Actor Bee Vang and Louisa Schein." Cultural Studies, 28(4): 561-573. This article involves a dialogue between actor Bee Vang and anthropologist Louisa Schein. The authors discuss the dynamics by which the contemporary racial order is engendered and reproduced through the micropractices of film production from casting, to on set, to the reception of the resulting film text and also reflect on insights they have gathered from two years of collaboration.
Adam Sposato. (2014). "Word order in Miao-Yao (Hmong-Mien)." Linguistic Typology 18(1): 83-140. Relying primarily on recently published Chinese descriptions, the author of this article presents data on fourteen word order features for eleven Miao-Yao languages for use in large-scale typological studies. The article also discusses two typologically unusual word order feature values which have been claimed to be largely or entirely restricted to Sinitic, but which are actually also commonly observed in Miao-Yao.
Nicholas Tapp. (2014). "Religious Issues in China's Rural Development: The Importance of Ethnic Minorities." The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, 15(5): 433-452. This author of this paper considers Chinese religion in relation to the changing nature of rural society and modernization in China. The author also includes aspects of ethnic minority religion and its renewal with reference to the ethnography of the Hmong, to show that minority religious issues can also reflect broader religious issues in China.
HMONG STUDIES VIRTUAL LIBRARY CONTINUES TO GROW AND INCLUDES THE HMONG CULTURE BOOK COLLECTION:
The Hmong Cultural Center in Saint Paul is pleased to announce the continued expansion and enhancement of the Hmong Studies Virtual Library of links to full-text books, research articles and published reports related to Hmong Studies and Southeast Asian American Studies as the part of the website of its Hmong Resource Center Library. The Hmong Studies Virtual Library now consists of source information metadata and links to more than 320 full-text Hmong-related resources available on the internet. The Hmong Studies Virtual Library currently includes in PDF format the complete contents of 156 journal articles, 18 conference panel sessions, 85 dissertations and theses, 38 research reports, and 22 books. Visit the Hmong Studies Virtual Library at http://www.hmonglibrary.org/hmong-studies-virtual-library.html
In addition to the many Hmong-related dissertations and journal articles included in the virtual library, the collection includes online access for the first time to the full-text of Hmong language resources developed by the Hmong Cultural Center over the past two decades pertaining to Hmong cultural traditions and history. Most of these 20 documents were compiled by the center’s long-time cultural specialist Tougeu Leepalao. Items from the Hmong Cultural Center’s Hmong Culture Collection available in PDF format and featured in the Virtual Library include Tshoob Kos (Hmong Traditional Wedding Ceremony Procedures, Tus Txheej Txheem Kab Kev Pam Tuag (Hmong Traditional Funeral Ceremony Procedures), Hmoob Lub Neej Nyob Yaj Ces Tuam Meem Teb (Suav Teb) Txij Li Tiam 1 Mus Txog Tiam 18. (Hmong Life in China from the 1st Century to 18th Century), Txoov Siv Yis. Hwj Huaj Neeb Kho Mob. Tus Txiv Neeb. Hwj Huaj Neeb. Lwm Sub Xa Xyoo Laus. Pov Pob Xyoo Tshiab. (History of the Shaman Ceremony in Hmong culture) and Hmoob Lub Neej Nyob Yaj. Ces Teb Tsim Meej (Los Tsuas), Txij Li Tiam 18 mus txog tiam 20 (Hmong Life in Laos from the 18th to 20th century. In addition to its home in the Hmong Studies Virtual Library, the Hmong Culture Book Collection may also be viewed here: http://www.hmongcc.org/hmong-culture-book-collection.html
Mark E. Pfeifer, PhD, of Hmong Cultural Center stated: “Today’s students and scholars often look online first for full-text research as they work on term papers and research projects. The Hmong Studies Virtual Library is a very unique resource that provides more than 300 full-text research resources related to the Hmong in one place. We are particularly pleased that the latest expansion of the virtual library includes several documents in the Hmong language pertaining to Hmong culture and history including Qeej songs and Wedding and Funeral procedures that will now be available to online audiences in Minnesota and beyond for the first time. This online library supported in part by a 3 year grant from the Henry Luce Foundation will play an important role in facilitating easy access in one place to full-text resources pertaining to the Hmong and will help the Hmong Resource Center Library continue its mission as a key research institution to community members, students and scholars.”
In addition to the many Hmong-related dissertations and journal articles included in the virtual library, the collection includes online access for the first time to the full-text of Hmong language resources developed by the Hmong Cultural Center over the past two decades pertaining to Hmong cultural traditions and history. Most of these 20 documents were compiled by the center’s long-time cultural specialist Tougeu Leepalao. Items from the Hmong Cultural Center’s Hmong Culture Collection available in PDF format and featured in the Virtual Library include Tshoob Kos (Hmong Traditional Wedding Ceremony Procedures, Tus Txheej Txheem Kab Kev Pam Tuag (Hmong Traditional Funeral Ceremony Procedures), Hmoob Lub Neej Nyob Yaj Ces Tuam Meem Teb (Suav Teb) Txij Li Tiam 1 Mus Txog Tiam 18. (Hmong Life in China from the 1st Century to 18th Century), Txoov Siv Yis. Hwj Huaj Neeb Kho Mob. Tus Txiv Neeb. Hwj Huaj Neeb. Lwm Sub Xa Xyoo Laus. Pov Pob Xyoo Tshiab. (History of the Shaman Ceremony in Hmong culture) and Hmoob Lub Neej Nyob Yaj. Ces Teb Tsim Meej (Los Tsuas), Txij Li Tiam 18 mus txog tiam 20 (Hmong Life in Laos from the 18th to 20th century. In addition to its home in the Hmong Studies Virtual Library, the Hmong Culture Book Collection may also be viewed here: http://www.hmongcc.org/hmong-culture-book-collection.html
Mark E. Pfeifer, PhD, of Hmong Cultural Center stated: “Today’s students and scholars often look online first for full-text research as they work on term papers and research projects. The Hmong Studies Virtual Library is a very unique resource that provides more than 300 full-text research resources related to the Hmong in one place. We are particularly pleased that the latest expansion of the virtual library includes several documents in the Hmong language pertaining to Hmong culture and history including Qeej songs and Wedding and Funeral procedures that will now be available to online audiences in Minnesota and beyond for the first time. This online library supported in part by a 3 year grant from the Henry Luce Foundation will play an important role in facilitating easy access in one place to full-text resources pertaining to the Hmong and will help the Hmong Resource Center Library continue its mission as a key research institution to community members, students and scholars.”
HMONG EMBROIDERY BOOK AVAILABLE FROM HMONG CULTURAL CENTER
Hmong Embroidery is a limited edition commemorative program book for the 2013-14 Hmong Embroidery Community Exhibit, a partnership of the Hmong Cultural Center and the Hmong Archives, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Saint Paul Cultural Star program, UCARE and the Travelers Arts and Diversity Committee.
The unique 146 page book includes beautiful color photos of 121 Hmong embroidery artworks including in the community exhibit along with narrative descriptions of each artwork including information about the artist, style of Hmong embroidery, techniques used and the cultural significance and meaning of the artwork. Featured Hmong embroidered artworks come from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Germany and the United States.
The book also includes a visual guide to Hmong Embroidery Motifs and Symbols and a Glossary of Hmong Embroidery-related terms. The $50.00 price for the book includes shipping and handling. To learn more about ordering this unique book visit: http://www.hmongcc.org/hmong-embroidery-book.html
The unique 146 page book includes beautiful color photos of 121 Hmong embroidery artworks including in the community exhibit along with narrative descriptions of each artwork including information about the artist, style of Hmong embroidery, techniques used and the cultural significance and meaning of the artwork. Featured Hmong embroidered artworks come from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Germany and the United States.
The book also includes a visual guide to Hmong Embroidery Motifs and Symbols and a Glossary of Hmong Embroidery-related terms. The $50.00 price for the book includes shipping and handling. To learn more about ordering this unique book visit: http://www.hmongcc.org/hmong-embroidery-book.html
OTHER NEWS IN HMONG STUDIES:
U.S. Census Bureau releases 2013 Hmong Profile in the American Community Survey:
In October 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau released the Hmong American Profile in the 2013 American Community Survey. Profiles are available for U.S. Hmong, California Hmong and Minnesota Hmong. Access the datasets here: http://www.hmongstudiesjournal.org/hmong-census-data.html
WWW Hmong Homepage and Hmong Studies Internet Resource Center Merge:
The WWW Hmong Homepage, founded by Craig Rice and one of the oldest Hmong-related websites dating back to the early 1990s has merged with the Hmong Studies Studies Internet Resource Center, which has provided a portal site to Hmong Studies research including a newsletter, bibliographies and census data since 2001. The newly merged research resources website can be founded at both www.hmongstudies.org and www.hmongnet.org
U.S. Census Bureau releases 2013 Hmong Profile in the American Community Survey:
In October 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau released the Hmong American Profile in the 2013 American Community Survey. Profiles are available for U.S. Hmong, California Hmong and Minnesota Hmong. Access the datasets here: http://www.hmongstudiesjournal.org/hmong-census-data.html
WWW Hmong Homepage and Hmong Studies Internet Resource Center Merge:
The WWW Hmong Homepage, founded by Craig Rice and one of the oldest Hmong-related websites dating back to the early 1990s has merged with the Hmong Studies Studies Internet Resource Center, which has provided a portal site to Hmong Studies research including a newsletter, bibliographies and census data since 2001. The newly merged research resources website can be founded at both www.hmongstudies.org and www.hmongnet.org
HMONG WEDDING AND FUNERAL PROCEDURES TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH IN PUBLICATIONS FROM HMONG CULTURAL CENTER
The Hmong Cultural Center has completed a major project initiative involving the translation into English and production of two books - Tshoob Kos (Wedding Procedures) and Kev Cai Pam Tuag (Funeral Procedures). Earlier versions of these books were compiled by Tougeu Leepalao, the Cultural Consultant of Hmong Cultural Center between 1995 and 2005. The procedures outlined in these books form much of the curriculum of the Wedding and Funeral Ceremony classes offered on the weekends at Hmong Cultural Center. The earlier versions of the books were available in the Hmong RPA script and printed in limited numbers for distribution by Hmong Cultural Center. The Tshoob Kos (Wedding Procedures) and Kev Cai Pam Tuag (Funeral Procedures) project was supported by a fiscal year 2012 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage grant from the Minnesota Historical Society. This activity was funded, in part, by the arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. Western & Southern Life’s Saint Paul office provided generous financial support for the printing of these newly available publications. “Supporting the Hmong community is very important to Western & Southern Life and especially to me,” explained Roger Soung, Western & Southern Life’s agency manager in St. Paul. “Having a common pride in our Hmong heritage brings us all closer together as a community.”
How to Order the Books: Visit http://www.hmongcc.org/hmong-weddingfuneral-books.html or the Hmong Cultural Center offices in Saint Paul to order copies of Tshoob Kos (Wedding Procedures) and Kev Cai Pam Tuag (Funeral Procedures). Individual copies are $12.00 a piece if picked up at the Hmong Cultural Center or $15.00 if ordered online. A check in the amount of $15.00 or $30.00 for both books may also be mailed to Hmong Cultural Center, 995 University Avenue, Suite 214, Saint Paul, MN 55101. Institutional Purchase Orders are accepted and may be mailed or faxed to 651-917-9978. Please allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery.
How to Order the Books: Visit http://www.hmongcc.org/hmong-weddingfuneral-books.html or the Hmong Cultural Center offices in Saint Paul to order copies of Tshoob Kos (Wedding Procedures) and Kev Cai Pam Tuag (Funeral Procedures). Individual copies are $12.00 a piece if picked up at the Hmong Cultural Center or $15.00 if ordered online. A check in the amount of $15.00 or $30.00 for both books may also be mailed to Hmong Cultural Center, 995 University Avenue, Suite 214, Saint Paul, MN 55101. Institutional Purchase Orders are accepted and may be mailed or faxed to 651-917-9978. Please allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery.
COMPREHENSIVE AND EXPANDED HMONG STUDIES RESEARCH BIBLIOGRAPHIES ARE ONLINE:
Doing research on a Hmong Studies research topic? More than 40 comprehensive and frequently updated online subject bibliographies of Hmong Studies works are available at the following link: http://www.hmongstudiesjournal.org/hmong-studies-bibliographies.html
A 2007-Present research bibliography is updated every few months with information about the latest research publications in Hmong Studies, online links to full-text are included where applicable:
http://www.hmongstudiesjournal.org/hmong-studies-publications-from-2007-present.html
Doing research on a Hmong Studies research topic? More than 40 comprehensive and frequently updated online subject bibliographies of Hmong Studies works are available at the following link: http://www.hmongstudiesjournal.org/hmong-studies-bibliographies.html
A 2007-Present research bibliography is updated every few months with information about the latest research publications in Hmong Studies, online links to full-text are included where applicable:
http://www.hmongstudiesjournal.org/hmong-studies-publications-from-2007-present.html
