My Hispanic Roots, My American Dream: Latino Teens' Perceptions of Their Biculturalism as Revealed in Autobiographical Narratives

• In Event: 33.078 - Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: 33.078-2 - Finding and Determining Oneself: Making Sense of Social Identities

Abstract

The focus of this study is biculturalism in Latino teens. Autobiographical narratives were analyzed to identify how teens perceive their biculturalism. Bicultural identity integration theory is combined with ecological systems theory to examine three questions: 1) How do bicultural teens describe their cultural heritage? 2) Do bicultural teens perceive their biculturalism as beneficial or detrimental? 3) How do bicultural teens describe their life plans, particularly their educational aspirations? Mixed methods were employed to examine 108 essays written from 2009-2013 on the topic “My Hispanic Roots, My American Dream.” Preliminary findings suggest that valuing family is a key characteristic of Latino bicultural experience. Educational aspirations also increased after the 2012 DACA announcement. Implications for K-12 educators and policymakers are discussed.

Authors

• Laura Blackwell Clark, Middle Tennessee State University

• Jennifer Jill Krabill, Middle Tennessee State University