(Mis)Labeled: The Challenge of Academic Capital Formation for Hmong American High School Students in an Urban Setting

Abstract

The Model Minority Myth for Asians as a group disguises the challenges facing Hmong and other underrepresented Southeast Asian American groups. Using the theoretical framework of Academic Capital Formation (ACF), this qualitative study examines the implications of the Model Minority Myth by focusing on the experiences and educational challenges of Hmong American high school students in an urban setting in the Midwest. Results from this study alludes to a bimodal pattern of achievement amongst the Asian American Pacific Islander community, emphasizing the importance of increasing visibility for underrepresented Southeast Asians, such as Hmong Americans, with regards to access to higher education