Utilizing Community Cultural Wealth to Explore of the Experiences of Latina Undergraduate Students in Computing

• In Event: Highlighting the Realities of Minoritized Individuals in STEM

Abstract

This study utilized a qualitative, phenomenological approach to examine how undergraduate Latina students in computing leverage community cultural wealth to be successful during college. Using Yosso’s (2005) model of community cultural wealth, this study sought to highlight the knowledge, skills, and strengths that students brought from their communities into the computing setting. Preliminary findings suggest that students leveraged navigational, resistant, and familial capital to be successful in computing spaces in higher education. Students activated navigational capital to maneuver around computing challenges and resistant capital to incite change in those environments. In addition, students utilized various relationships with both close as well as extended family to further connect themselves to the computing environment.

Authors

• Sarah Rodriguez, Texas A&M University - Commerce

• Daisy Ramirez, University of California - Los Angeles

• Kathleen Lehman, University of California - Los Angeles

• Linda J. Sax, University of California - Los Angeles