Understanding the Experiences of Farmworking Children: Microaggressions and Microaffirmations Among First-Generation Latina/o Undergraduates at UCLA (Poster 14)

• In Event: Friday Poster Session 4:55
  In Invited Poster Session: 2024 AERA Undergraduate Fellows Research Poster Fair

Abstract

This study aims to explore the experiences of first-generation Latina/o undergraduates from Ventura County's agricultural communities at UCLA, focusing on their strategies for tackling microaggressions and utilizing microaffirmations. The central research question addressed is: How do first-generation Latina/o undergraduates from Ventura County's agricultural communities at UCLA tackle microaggressions and use microaffirmations as a resistance strategy?

This research used a mixed-methods approach to gather data and used pláticas (informal conversations) and surveys. A flyer was distributed across 50 departments at UCLA, targeting students who met specific eligibility criteria: being first-generation, identifying as Latina/o, hailing from Ventura County, CA, and coming from a farmworking background. Selected participants were engaged in pláticas, with four students—two males and two females—participating.

The study's findings revealed three main categories of microaggressions experienced by farmworking undergraduate students, along with corresponding microaffirmations. The lack of inclusivity in Chicano courses resulted in Central American students seeking community and affirmation in student clubs such as UNICA (Unión Centroamericana de Estudiantes). Additionally, supportive words from their parents mitigated imposter syndrome, while leveraging their cultural knowledge and assets bolstered the students' intellectual capabilities.

The study proposes future directions, including expanding the research to include perspectives from graduate students who are also farmworking children. This extension could provide deeper insights into farmworking children’s experiences and coping mechanisms within higher education settings.

In conclusion, this research sheds light on how first-generation Latina/o undergraduates from farmworking backgrounds navigate microaggressions and utilize microaffirmations as forms of resistance and empowerment within UCLA's academic environment.

Author

• Sarahy Torres, University of California - Los Angeles