Living in the Margin

Marginality is important for three reasons. First, it affects first generation college students. Second, it creates a divide between tradition and American cultural demands. Lastly, because the divide influences Chicana's in the workforce. How to get around barriers? How to identify what those barriers are and maneuver the professional sphere to become a shinning star in business? These are all questions that encompass my motivations behind this investigation.

Higher education

Sociologist, Jeanette Castellano found that Latino cultural traditions aren't mirrored in the classroom and it effects Chicano students success in academics. The university process is a foreign language to first generation students. Their parents haven't been through the same transitions. Support financially is available, maybe. And support emotionally is there always, but understanding the process is not really there. Working full time is the natural step forward for most high school graduating Latinos. College is viewed as an option, not a must. That drop out demon persisting, "take this fulltime job, never mind your 12 unit course load."

"Specific to Chicanos, the largest U.S. Latino ethnic group, only 15 of 100 students will graduate from college, and only 4 will earn a graduate degree," said Castellano. The uphill battle effects a breadth of Chicano college students.

Outside factors

"Many Latinos find themselves negotiating home and school responsibilities differently than other students-a complex and stressful process. Latino students are often 'pulled home' to attend to family needs and as a result are frequently subjected to stereotypes and competency questioning by faculty or peers as to whether they are really motivated to acquire higher education."

Castellano stressed that the importance of a family like structure is essential for the success of Latino students. A process of validation from mentors, peers and upper administration can make the college experience and environment conducive to success for Latinos. Without validation from those sources, students deviate off track to less fulfilling college experiences and ultimately taking away from the pool of Latino graduates.

Identifying the ceiling

Segura recognized that "women of color become occupationally segregated into lower paying, lower status administrative support, clerical, and service occupations." Traditional Chicano culture places a high premium on motherhood and being the supportive backbone of the home. She studied thirty Chicanas in academia and found that even Chicanas working in higher education are experiencing a ceiling, the ceiling that is surpassed by female Anglos. The women interviewed said it was and still is a battle of breaking through acceptable Chicana roles. "Chicanas have a tendency to see things through rose colored shades in the workplace."

Their evaluation of their jobs is filtered through a gender and ethnic lens. She performed a study on Chicanas who work at a large public university in California. The majority of the sample enjoyed their work for reasons pertaining to their social fulfillment via coworkers and contributions.

Self fulfillment through pleasing others or helping others is at the core of the majority of Chicanas motivations on the job rather than monetary fulfillment and recognition for a job well done.

Evidence illustrates that traditional norms were factors in education and job positioning. Cultural influences of normalcy are prevalent in the lives of Chicano students. There is a need to nurture these cultural influences. It enforces the student's sense of validity, community and growth potential by enabling such students to feel comfortable enough to flex their voices.

Sources

Castellanos, Jeanett; Gloria, Alberta M. Research Considerations and Theoretical Application for Best Practices in Higher Education: Latina/os Achieving Success. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education; v6 n4 p378-396 2007 SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA. Retrieved June 24, 2009

Segura, Denise A. Chicanas in "White Collar Jobs: "You Have to Prove Yourself More," Sociological Perspectives (1992) University of California Press Retrieved June 20, 2009 from Google

Segura, Denise A. Navigating between Two Worlds: The Labyrinth of Chicana Intellectual Production in the Academy Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 34, No. 1, Race in the Academy: Moving beyond Diversity and toward the Incorporation of Faculty of Color in Predominantly White Colleges and Universities (Sep., 2003) Retrieved June 20, 2009 from Sociological Abstracts database Word count: 928 (not including bibliography or cover page)