Staying Close to Home: A Critical Race Counternarrative on First-Generation, Mexican American Student-College Academic Undermatch

• In Event: 18.058 - MTCC Roundtable Session Four
  In Roundtable Session: 18.058-7 - Understanding Latinx Undergraduates

Abstract

This paper qualitatively explores how a cadre of low-income, first-generation college students navigate contested terrain in pursuit of their college education. Findings are presented as a composite counternarrative to oppose dominant discourse concerning deficit narratives of Mexican-American students in college and academic undermatch. Specifically, this counternarrative was derived from individual interviews, observations, and a review of artifacts collected from 17 undergraduates, 23 family members, and 9 educators. Through the use of 3 composite characters constructed from the overall sample, as well as empirical research and insights from the research team’s lived experiences, this paper details the significance of Mexican-American college students’ decisions and response to enduring systemic inequality in higher education.

Authors

• Nydia C. Sánchez, The University of Texas at Austin

• Edgar Fidel Lopez, The University of Texas at Austin

• Victor Hugo Martin, The University of Texas at Austin

• Maria Unda, The University of Texas at Austin