Sharing the Wealth: Bilingual-Bicultural Latina Mothers' Journeys

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 4
  In Roundtable Session: Examining Languaging Practices in Multilingual Homes and Communities

Abstract

Garnering insights from Yosso’s (2005) Community Wealth Framework, this paper explores motherhood for three bilingual and bicultural Latinas and how these mothers shaped the achievement and wellbeing of their children and communities. Part of a larger study on parent involvement, we draw from eight home visits—which included observations of family interactions and semi-structured interviews with both mothers and children. Our findings suggest the mothers were motivated by their past experiences and future aspirations to provide a high-quality education for their children—and became bilingual and bicultural for this purpose. They advocated for their children and aided school and community members in unique ways but struggled to support their children in the classroom and pass down their bilingual legacy.

Authors

• Karla del Rosal, Southern Methodist University

• Alexandra E. Pavlakis, Southern Methodist University

• Jillian Marie Conry, Southern Methodist University