"It's Because You Don't See Yourself as Unequal to Anybody": The Immigrant Experience as Resource and Challenge for Young Women of Color in an Elite Public High School

• In Event: Navigating Borders and Boundaries: Schooling Experiences of Immigrants and Others

Abstract

This study examines how 1.5 and 2nd generation women who attended an elite, predominantly white public high school use an immigration lens to explain their experiences. Women discuss ways in which their immigrant and ethnic ties serve as important resources by providing community, pride, and information. Women also discuss some of the challenges that come along with being a 1.5 or 2nd generation American, including parental expectations and tensions. Finally, participants discuss the challenges and frustrations of being forced into the American racial structure.

Author

• Catherine Simpson Bueker, Emmanuel College