Ethnocentrism In Hmong's Culture

Ethnocentrism is the attitude of considering one’s own culture as superior and as the right one, and looking down on other cultures. Ethnocentrism leads to valuing certain beliefs and behaviors that people share in a community and ethnocentric people believe that their way of living and behavior is the natural and normal way. Hmong people migrated to the United States from Laos to escape the ongoing war, and their culture and beliefs collided with American cultural in several ways. Hmong’s and American’s beliefs differ about medicine, authority and raising children. The Hmong have struggled throughout history to preserve their unique culture fighting especially against Chinese dominance. And the primary reason for their migration to the United …show more content…
The doctors justified themselves stating that they have had formal health education and knew what they were giving for their patients. Hmongs, however had grown up using herbal medicine and spiritual ceremonies for their illnesses. Thus, when Lia’s family brought her traditional soup and herbals at the hospital, the doctors usually confronted them. The doctors were not aware that soup and herbals were considered a traditional remedy for many illnesses. Although the soup is not medically beneficial, it does have psychological affect because Hmong have grown up believing in it their whole life. Also, the doctors usually did not like the parents always sleeping next to Lia and picking her up each time she desired because the doctors thought the Lee family was making Lia a dependent child. But according to Hmong culture, a loving parents should be very attentive to their children especially when they are sick. They proved the doctor’s wrong as Lia lived for twenty six more years after her grand seizures. The doctors said that Lia was going to die soon after her big seizure. Consequently, it is clear that Hmong’s traditional healings and emotional support kept Lia alive for more than American doctors