Children of Mexican Immigrants’ Aspiration-Attainment Gap and Educational Resilience

• In Event: 207 - Section on Sociology of Education Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 06. Immigration and Education

Abstract

This paper examines the educational resilience and aspiration-attainment gap of Mexican immigrant children in the midst of the dramatic transformation of U.S. demographic structure. Two widespread family theoretical explanations can be used to advance the current understanding on the educational disparities for immigrant children of Mexican origin: the cultural argument, which emphasizes their family process and value orientation, and the structural model, which stresses the role of family’s socio-economic status and structural assimilation in the mainstream society. Overall, both theoretical explanations were partially supported. Protective determinants and risk factors that foster or impede educational resilience among children of Mexican immigrants are enumerated. Relevant practice implications are also discussed.

Author

• Yok Fong Paat, University of Texas-El Paso