Youth Participatory Action Research and Manifestations of Critical Consciousness: The Role of Positionality

• In Event: Ethnic Identities, Critical Consciousness, and College Choices of Youth of Color

Abstract

Youth participatory action research (YPAR) is a research approach where youth identify, research and take action on school and community issues relevant to their lives. YPAR helps youth develop critical consciousness, a process of critically analyzing and changing social conditions, and that development can be inhibited by social structures, including immigration status. We implemented YPAR during 2019 and 2020 at four California schools with middle and high school youth of color. Educator interviews and youth focus group results revealed an intertwining of young people’s selection of a YPAR topic, lived experiences, and development of critical consciousness; and how that differs based on youth’s positionality. We argue that immigrant youth’s lived experiences and social positionality constrains their development of critical consciousness.

Authors

• Dorina Espinoza, University of California - Agriculture and Natural Resources

• Sally Elizabeth Neas, University of California - Davis

• Steven Worker, University of California Cooperative Extension

• Car Mun Kok, University of California - Davis