Generations of Change:
Preservation, Deviation, Adaptation.
Generations of Change was a project created for my independent study in documentary photojournalism. At the start of the course, I hoped to pursue a topic that would take me outside my comfort zone, challenge my beliefs, and help me document communities not often represented in photojournalism.
I discussed the project with my partner, who is of Hmong heritage, and we spoke about his connection to that heritage. Because my only experiences with Hmong culture had come through him and his family, I entered the project with preconceived ideas about what Hmong life in Wisconsin looked like. In his family’s experience, resettling from Laos to the United States significantly altered the way traditions were practiced. As I continued my research, however, I learned that this experience was not universal among Hmong families.
With that understanding in mind, I used this project to explore how different generations of Hmong families pass down culture, traditions, and connection to the Hmong community, with a particular focus on interpersonal relationships and gender roles.
Through my work on Generations of Change, I experienced several different levels of involvement within one’s culture, including, but not limited to, preservation, deviation, and adaptation.
This project demonstrates something many Hmong individuals have likely always known: while there may be shared experiences and cultural understanding within a community, each person experiences culture differently. There is no single “correct” way for a family to practice its traditions, nor is there one universal way cultural change is experienced across generations.
A woman holds out her hand during "Khi Tes" or hand-tying at a Hmong name-change ceremony in La Crosse, Wis., Saturday, April 18, 2026. The white strings symbolize blessings and good health.
Mai Lee Vang places her hands behind her back as she observes women preparing food in the kitchen in La Crosse, Wis., Saturday, April 18, 2026. The food was for the guests of an elder name-changing ceremony.
Several men gather around a table in the living room as guests arrive at an elder name-changing ceremony in La Crosse, Wis., Saturday, April 18, 2026. A younger man holds his baby as his partner stands by. In Hmong culture, it is common for women to take on more domestic duties while men are considered in charge.
Mai Lee Vang and Sher Xiong speak in Hmong as their son watches a horror movie with them in Appleton, Wis., Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Xiong said his kids often spend their time in their rooms while they watch television in the evenings.
Sher Xiong prepares chicken for his children while his wife is at work in Appleton, Wis., Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Though Xiong believes in traditional gender roles and his wife was a stay-at-home mom for 15 years, she began working for Keurig 10 years ago.
While his wife is at work, Sher Xiong practices karaoke in his basement in Appleton, Wis., Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Xiong works 4 days a week at Gulfstream, and when his wife is gone, he often spends time hunting, fishing, doing yard work, or practicing karaoke.
Yami Sweeny teaches one of her employees a new technique on one of their clients in Shawano, Wis., Thursday, April 9, 2026. Sweeny opened her own nail salon, The Painted Dock Nail Salon, in February of 2026.
Yami Sweeny poses with her freshly fried egg rolls as her aunt Dolly takes a photo for Facebook in Shawano, Wis., Sunday, March 29, 2026. The pair got together that night to cook Hmong Soup. Sweeny said in Hmong culture, it's common for women to cook together.
Yami Sweeny takes a break from cooking to jokingly dance in front of her husband, Bob Sweeny, while her son looks at his phone in Shawano, Wis., Sunday, March 29, 2026. Yami and Bob got married in August of 2023 in a Mormon ceremony, though Bob is Catholic. Yami attributes prayers from Mormon missionaries as a contributing factor in her mother's recovery from an illness when Yami was growing up in California.
Kenneth Lee and Robert Sweeny sit down to eat appetizers and Yami Sweeny and her aunt Dolly work on cooking their Hmong Soup in Shawano, Wis., Sunday, March 29, 2026. Though Yami is detached from Hmong culture, she said she still believes in its traditional gender roles.
Kenneth Lee grabs fried garlic from his lazy suzan as he cooks breakfast for his girlfriend in Appleton, Wis., Tuesday, March 17, 2026. While Lee is not involved in the Hmong community or its events, he still shops for ingredients at the Hmong grocery store in Appleton.
Kenneth Lee works on building his new computer in Appleton, Wis., Monday, March 30, 2026. One of his hobbies is gaming with his friends, most of whom are not Hmong.
Kenneth Lee cooks breakfast for his girlfriend and wears a Sai Sin bracelet in Appleton, Wis., Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The bracelet is similar to the Hmong Khi Tes, but Lee received the blessing bracelet from his Laotian grandmother, who is buddhist.
Surrounded by corporate American businesses such as Burger King, Kenneth Lee grabs a receipt after paying for food at his favorite Hmong restaurant in Appleton, Lo Yuhmie in Appleton, Wis., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Though Lee and his mother, Yami Sweeny, aren't very involved in the Hmong community, Lee said he feels most attached to the food.
Kenneth Lee eats Hmong takeout from Lo Yumhmie Foods in Appleton, Wis., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Though Lee and his mother, Yami Sweeny, aren't very involved in the Hmong community, Lee said he feels most attached to the food.
Karter Thor and his friends raise a glass as they bowl in Appleton, Wis., Friday, April 10, 2026. Though Thor spent his childhood embarrassed by Hmong events, as he’s grown older, he has become more involved and met several Hmong friends.
A pitcher is marked "adults only" to keep children from drinking any alcohol at the name change ceremony in La Crosse, Wis., Saturday, April 18, 2026. Drinking is a large part of Hmong events, though other options are offered.
A mom brings her son with her to make him a plate of food at a Hmong name change ceremony in La Crosse, Wis., Saturday, April 18, 2026. In Hmong culture, women cook, clean, and often make plates for children.
As older Hmong men discuss the logistics of the name change ceremony, young boys chase each other around the room in La Crosse, Wis., Saturday, April 18, 2026. At Hmong gatherings, it's common for children from many different families to play together while older folks celebrate.
A boy receives a blessing during the hand-tying ceremony at a Hmong elder name change ceremony in La Crosse, Wis., Saturday, April 18, 2026. The white strings symbolize blessings and good health.