“You Should Know This Already”: Undergraduate Latinas Majoring in Biology at an MSI

• In Event: 30682 - The Landscape of Access to Educational Opportunity: Gateways and Barriers

Abstract

Previous research underscores the recent gender reversal in college enrollment and educational attainment that appears to favor women, especially Latinas. While Latina bachelors’ degree attainment is increasing, their experiences in the biological sciences major may be distinct in comparison to other ethnoracial groups. We draw on qualitative data - focus groups, in-depth interviews, and journal entries - on a diverse sample of undergraduate biology students to examine how Latinas’ experience in the major compares to that of self-identified Black and Asian American women at a minority serving institution. Our analysis underscores that all women recognize the competitive culture of their classrooms, however, they interpret this competition in distinct ways. We find that first generation college student Latinas from working class homes experience a culture shock when exposed to college-level STEM curriculum and when interacting and attempting to collaborate with their more class heterogeneous Asian American and middle class African American peers, who were more likely to attend affluent and racially mixed schools. While white-presenting and middle class Latinas are able to more seamlessly integrate with class diverse Asian American students, we argue that working class and first generation Latinas are culturally sidelined and excluded by their mostly Asian women peers in the biological sciences major.

Authors

• Glenda M. Flores, University of California Irvine

• Maria G. Rendon, University of California, Irvine

• David R. Schaefer, University of California-Irvine