Overcoming Barriers: Resilience in Latina Mothers in Higher Education

• In Event: 106 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session I
  In Refereed Roundtable: A. Table 11. Latina/o Sociology

Abstract

Latinas struggle to attend and graduate from 4-year universities. Ten percent of Latina mothers have received a college degree (Gándara, 2010). Yet,
not enough graduate from college because of the barriers they face, one of
which is the high pregnancy rate amongst young Latinas. Research largely
focuses on the barriers causing Latinas and mothers to drop out of school.
In this qualitative study of Latina mothers in college, women from
Chicago’s Southwest Side were interviewed to understand barriers they face, as
well as the motivations and strategies they use to remain resilient and
continue their education in college despite those struggles. In addition to challenging
the traditional view of “mother,” they make sacrifices to prioritize their
education. They do not see staying home to raise their child as a first
priority, but instead focus on their education. They do so knowing the
importance of education and its role in the future of their children. Moreover,
they are not alone in overcoming the barriers they face; they receive valuable
support from their parents. Specifically, their parents support them with
childcare and encouragement in their education. They are motivated to remain
resilience by their child, their parents, and themselves. The combination of
their being Latinas and mothers both strongly influence their motivation to
remain resilient in pursuing their college education. Overall, these Latina mothers are able to remain
resilient and continue their education to not only get a better future for
themselves as Latinas, but for their child as well.

Authors

• Susana Gonzalez, University of Illinois-Chicago

• Stephanie Cano, Chicago Law and Education Foundation

• Doris Romero, Chicago Law and Education Foundation