Nina Savani
Research Mentor: Melissa Borja
Mentor Department: American Culture, LSA
Author(s): Nina Savani, Melissa Borja
Session: Session 6 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 3
Abstract
This study examines news media coverage of Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome, or SUNDS, which was heavily observed among Hmong refugees in the 1970s and 1980s. Specifically, this study will examine how the media portrayed this phenomenon, and in turn, Hmong refugees themselves. To investigate this question, this project analyzes local newspaper articles from the 1970s and 1980s, typically from Midwestern regions such as Minnesota as they have a large population of Hmong refugees. With this syndrome being a noninfectious medical mystery, it is found that there tends to only be opinions discussed by medical professionals rather than the general public. The findings also contribute to the portrayal of the cultural beliefs of Hmong refugees in disease, and also the role Hmong refugees play in this disease compared to other diseases associated with Asian Americans.
