Coming to America: An Autoethnography of a First-Generation Afghan Woman Navigating U.S. Education

• In Event: The Importance of Race and Representation: Navigating Educational GPS Across the P-20 Landscape

Abstract

This autoethnographic study explored my academic experiences as a first-generation Afghan woman within the U.S. education system. The guiding question: How have my experiences as a first-generation Afghan woman facilitated or complicated my success in navigating American education? I provide a historical background of Afghanistan and female cultural norms. I explored significant components relating to the conceptual theoretical framework as a member of the broad umbrella known as Asian American and Pacific Islander. A number of vignettes illustrate my experiences at U.S middle and high school, and post-secondary educational institutions. Two primary themes emerged: challenges and resilience. Within the two themes, four individual sub-themes emerged. The two themes and related sub-themes aid in surmising several recommendations for both practitioner and researcher.

Author

• Khatira Assil Tarvirdian, California State University - Channel Islands