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Tsim Txom: Domestic Violence in Hmong Society

From Wisconsin Public Radio | 00:29:42
Producers: Brian Bull

Credit:
A look at domestic abuse in Hmong culture

RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Documentary (Region IV); part of winning submission for national RTNDA-UNITY Awards, Large-Market Radio; Wisconsin Associated Press 1st Place for Documentary; Northwest Broadcast News Association Eric Sevareid Award for Best Documentary, Large Market Radio; and finalist, DART Awards, from the DART Center of Journalism and Trauma.
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Back in their traditional homeland of Laos, the Hmong people observed a patriarchal society. Men made the rules, women kept their place. It was expected that while a husband could lead a clan or simply stay out late with friends, the wife would stay behind and mind the home and children.

After the Vietnam War, many Hmong -- who sided with the U.S. Forces -- fled southeast Asia to avoid persecution. Thousands of Hmong have come to America, where the concept of gender equality has been one of the biggest challenges to the their traditional value system.

As opposed to Laos, women in America can work outside the home, get an education, choose their mates, and become community leaders. While some Hmong herald these opportunities, others denounce them as contrary to their culture. This disagreement has caused tensions in some Hmong households, and clashes among relatives have even escalated to violence.

Crisis advocates are quick to note that while Hmong-Americans don't particularly have higher rates of domestic violence than other groups, unique cultural factors may keep a significant number of victims from seeking help. One of the most immediate is the clan system, which is expected to intervene and resolve the matter before police or crisis counselors are called in.

Tsim Txom: Domestic Violence in Hmong Society looks at how some victim advocates are addressing the problem, through education and culturally-sensitive services. Through interviews with abuse victims, Hmong community representatives, and crisis counselors, the span of the dilemma -- and possible solutions -- are illuminated in this in-depth documentary.

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RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Documentary (Region IV); part of winning submission for national RTNDA-UNITY Awards, Large-Market Radio; Wisconsin Associated Press 1st Place for Documentary; Northwest Broadcast News Association Eric Sevareid Award for Best Documentary, Large Market Radio; and finalist, DART Awards, from the DART Center of Journalism and Trauma. ------------- Back in their traditional homeland of Laos, the Hmong people observed a patriarchal society. Men made the rules, women kept their place. It was expected that while a husband could lead a clan or simply stay out late with friends, the wife would stay be...
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Todd Melby

Posted on November 02, 2006 at 12:47 PM | Permalink

Review of Tsim Txom: Domestic Violence in Hmong Society

The main character in this Wisconsin Public Radio documentary is a Hmong woman in a bad marriage. She marries young (age 13), her family doesn't teach her how to cook and her new husband beats her. "They told me to cook a certain meal and I didn't know how so they said, 'How come I'm such a stupid wife. That I was useless.'" In the Hmong language, Tsim Txom means suffering. There's plenty of that in this in-depth documentary produced by Brian Bull. It's a well-reported piece, but it doesn't have the emotional impact one might expect with such a topic. The problem is partly one of style. The storytelling is traditional. The voice of the subject is heard complaining about her husband (who she ultimately leaves) and then we hear the reporter's voice. This might have been more moving if the subject narrated the story (such as in several David Isay and Dan Collison/Elizabeth Meister documentaries) or the reporter created richer scenes, perhaps by leaving in his questions or interactions with the subject. Another idea might be to use music to serve as a bridge between the subject's recollections. Of course, it's incredibly difficult to do all this and share information with the listener about Hmong culture and domestic violence. The quality of reporting on these subjects make this a documentary worth licensing.

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Dheera Sujan

Posted on March 01, 2006 at 01:06 AM | Permalink

Review of Tsim Txom: Domestic Violence in Hmong Society

This is overall a wonderful story about the problems of a community that's not too well known to outsiders. Domestic abuse no matter which community its occurring in is a topic that's still laden with taboos and needs to be dragged out into the public sphere a lot more than is currently happening, so kudos to the producers for bringing the subject out to air - especially in the context of this mysterious and (to outsiders) unknown community of the Hmong in the US.
As a European broadcaster however I feel that there's just too much (needless) narration in there. Why US stations feel that the American narrator needs to tell a story that the interviewees are doing perfectly well is something that continues to perplex me. In this case the speakers were good, their English fine and clear, their stories powerful. The male narrator's storyline just got in the way and sucked out quite a lot of emotion from what is in the end an appalling human rights story. An abused wife finally leaves her husband, we're told as some unnecessary music elbows its way in. Then we move onto another speaker. My response as a listener, as a woman, as a mother is "hang on - did she take her kids with her? Where did she go? How did she survive?" I wanted to know the answers but only get some information of her fate at the end of the programme, though not nearly as much as I would have liked.
However it's an easy listen and the time flies by - there are great stories in here and lots of interesting information about a traditional community coping with integration.

Broadcast History

Debuted during Wisconsin Public Radio's Morning Edition program, 6:30am., 12/30/05.

Transcript

WPR DOCUMENTARY
TSIM TXOM : DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN HMONG SOCIETY
PRODUCED BY BRIAN BULL (29:42)

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In traditional Hmong society, men make the rules and women keep their place. But for Hmong who've left southeast Asia for the U-S, these roles aren?t the rule. In America, women can get jobs, go to school, and become leaders....privileges usually granted to men.

This has sparked tension -- and violence -- in some Hmong-American homes. Yet many abuse victims keep to a quiet, lonely despair rather than lose favor with their families and clan.

In our documentary, "Tsim Txom [jee-TSAH] -- Domestic Violence in Hmong Society", Brian Bull looks at the growing awareness of the issue, and the unique cultural barriers that keep victims silent. (:35)

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[FADE UP AMBI OF DISHES BEING SCRUBBE...
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Timing and Cues

29:42 long.

:38 lead (voiced by Terry Bell; can be omitted for own station's anchor)

:35 music bed at 10:29 for weather, promos, or headlines. :28 music bed at 23:11 for same.

Content Advisory

Includes several accounts of physical and emotional abuse against women and children.

Musical Works

Gavin Bryars' "Farewell to Philosophy" CD, Point Records 1997;
Boua Xou Mua - Music of Hmong People of Laos, Arhoolie Records, 1996; "You are the Love of my Life" by Hmong group Destiny (music clip from http://www.cla.umn.edu/twocities/rprojs/hmong/destiny.asp)

Gavin Bryar's "The North Shore", from CD: "A Man in a Room, Gambling" @ 1998 Point Records.

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