Violence Against Women and Hmong Religious Beliefs

Abstract

This chapter discusses the relationship between Hmong culture and violence against Hmong women in relation to Hmong animist beliefs. Hmong culture is grounded in animism. Spiritual and clan leaderships are held solely by men. In order for Hmong women to have a place among the Hmong, they must be tied to a spiritual clan. In order to come under the purview of a spiritual clan, a woman must be linked to a man. At birth, a woman comes under the purview of her father and his clan spirits and upon maturity, she is transferred to the clan spirits of her husband. If a woman leaves her marriage, she abandons her clan spirits and is destined to wander the earth as a lost soul after her death. Hmong believe that one must be attached to clan spirits who will eventually lead one’s soul to the land of the spirits upon death. Divorced women are not given a traditional Hmong funeral because once women leave their husbands, they leave his clan spirits, and upon their deaths, no one can facilitate their journey into the spirit world because it would go against spiritual beliefs. This is one of many reasons why female victims of domestic abuse are caught in a double bind; if they leave their husbands they are destined to wander this earth as a lost soul, however, if they stay with their abuser, they suffer continued abuse. To be culturally responsive, providers can help Hmong women forge new connections and support systems once they leave the abuser. In addition, culturally knowledgeable providers may provide education to Hmong women about the impact of traditional practices on their lives and the variety of religious and lifestyle options available to women in the USA.