Latina/o Sororities and Fraternities as Spaces of Empowerment at PWIs

• In Event: Latina/o Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Roundtable 5: Education, Institutions, and Social Mobility

Abstract

This research examines student experiences in Latina/o-founded sororities and fraternities to understand why students join and whether there are gendered membership benefits. These organizations provide a glimpse into the social lives of young Latinx adults. They are especially notable because they emerged from a broader context of social exclusion and racial discrimination at PWIs. The history of Latina/o sororities and fraternities is rooted in campus activism by Chicano and Puerto Rican students in the mid-1970s, with a mission to provide a welcoming and empowering space for Latina/o students. Data comes from 39 interviews with 32 Latina/o students attending a large midwestern public university, consisting of 17 women and 15 men. This research asks two primary questions: 1) What types of benefits (if any) do students gain from membership in Latina/o Greek Letter Organizations and 2) Are membership experiences and benefits (if any) similar or different by gender? Most of the students interviewed were first-generation college students and reported joining because of their organizations’ social and academic support and emphasis on advocacy for the Latinx community. However, there were gendered types of support. For young women, a major theme that emerged is a sense of empowerment and pride for their heritage and maintaining that connection in their academic and soon-to-be professional lives. Among young men, many were often the first in their families to be on a path to non-labor jobs. So, turning to other brothers for assistance with building a resume and networking within their fields was instrumental as they pursued their career path after graduation. Overall, this research sheds light on the different forms of gendered support available through Latina/o sororities and fraternities offer to their members.

Author

• Melissa Garcia, Texas State University