Turning Adversity Into Capitals Among Low-Income First-Generation Students of Color: Exploring Interdependence of Multiple Capitals

• In Event: Race, Gender, and Class: Examining Student Agency and Assets

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate the experiences of low income first generation students of color who graduated from PWIs and successfully entered professional employment. The data are drawn from in-depth interviews with exceptionally successful females. The study focuses on two areas: first, how did low income first generation student of color survive in PWIs, the places traditionally known as marginalizing first-generation students’ cultural capitals. Second, how did they complement lack of family capital, e.g., financial insecurity and lack of college information? Adopting Yosso’s (2005) six community cultural capitals, the data intends to illuminate varying degrees in which each participant leverages aspirational, familial, linguistic, navigational, social, and resistant capitals.

Authors

• Marcelle Jackson, St. Peter's University

• Jung - Ah Choi, St. Peter's University