Laotian Daughters

Brandy Zeng
May 16, 2017
Laotian daughters

There is often a theme of conflict between two separate cultures in immigrant families, and this can be seen especially among young Laotian women.
A lot of the time, Asians are lumped together into one group. But in reality, there are many different types. Not all asians are Chinese. Laotian culture is different than other asian cultures. Many immigrants face false labels and categorization.
 Laotian women also deal with alienation from parents. Parents have expectations of children that are different from what the children want for themselves because of different cultural values and wants. They begin to go through "code switching" - they change the ways they dress and act around their parents and peers. Many parents demanded obedience and there wasn't really an open communication between parents and children.
In Laotian families, girls are given more responsibility- they are expected to cook and clean. In he reading the girl talks about how her older brothers are allowed to go out and play but she has to stay home and help clean. This is because when they grow up, they're expected to take care of the family. There are different expectations for boys and girls. Although boys are the head of the family and have more respect, women are given more responsibility, and must dedicate themselves to the family.
Immigrant children also had the responsibility of being "cultural navigators" for their parents because they understood the language and were able to understand more about the new country and its cultures. Young children had to help their families with finances and other adult things because they were the only ones able to communicate.
In order to deal with gender equality and try to make their futures better, many Laotian women refuse to get married to Laotian men, thinking that thought interracial dating, they will have a better chance of beating their futures stuck at home taking care of the family. This also shows how Laotian women are trying to Americanize themselves and fit into a culture that is different than their own.