“They Look at You Differently”: Latinx Transfers Challenging Stigmas and Navigating White Spaces Through Familismo

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 3:05 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Navigating Transition to and Through Higher Education for Latina/o/x Students (Table 16)

Abstract

This study explored experiences of Latiné/x first generation individuals who transferred from community college and graduated from a 4-year university. I utilized a framework informed by Critical Race Theory (Solórzano & Yosso, 2002) and Latina/o Critical Theory (Delgado Bernal, 2002) to better understand their academic journeys. I gathered participant insight using pláticas, culturally-driven, informal conversations (Fierros & Delgado Bernal, 2016; Flores Carmona et al., 2021; Solórzano & Yosso, 2002). Findings indicated participants sought community, belongingness, and solidarity to navigate deficit views and white spaces encountered at university, a strategy which aligns with the cultural practice of familismo (Gonzales, 2019). This work provides vital information for higher education practitioners who hope to broaden access for Latiné/x community college and transfer students.

Author

• Jose Antonio Maldonado, Oxnard College