More Hispanic women attending college
Andrea Vasquez
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News
Change is brewing in the Hispanic community's traditional gender roles - research shows an increasing number of Hispanic women are pursuing postsecondary education.
This trend was investigated in the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas by Brent Cejda, associate professor of educational administration and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Sheldon Stick, professor of educational administration at UNL and an associate professor from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
"A lot of them talked about a better life, and not just financially," Cejda said. "It goes back to the old adage: if you want to be a good citizen, you need to have a better education."
The Hispanic population has some of the lowest representations in higher education, Stick said, and has a culture that assigns women to domestic roles rather than professional roles.
"On one hand there is concern about ensuring access to higher education for all persons who are so inclined," Stick said. "They should be afforded the opportunity to participate fully."
Some of the obstacles Cejda and Stick found were poverty, early motherhood and a cultural emphasis on machismo, which is a view that exaggerates masculinity.
However, both Cejda and Stick noted a strong sense of competence among the women.
"(The women) realized that what they grew up with is not what they have to live with," Stick said. "By virtue of their own determination (they) have become successful."
The study also credited the women with maturity, goal-orientation, motivation and the ability to focus on long-term results. Two important factors motivating the women were the opportunity to earn higher wages to support their family and the importance of being a role model, said Cejda.
Most of the women interviewed in the study were first-generation college students in their families. That means their decisions to enroll were generally not planned, and many opt for a community college rather than a four-year, Stick said.
"Almost none of them thought about college before their junior year of high school," said Cejda. "If we can get some thinking about it ahead of time, it's more likely that you'll see more conscientious choices."
Policy makers can help encourage Hispanic students to pursue higher education by partnering with elementary schools or civic organizations and by making parents aware of opportunities and deadlines. Institutions can also contribute by offering long-term scholarships and financial aid, providing academic support and have supportive instructors.
When UNL finds and attracts talented minorities, the university does a good job of making a commitment to those students, Stick said. The university offers scholarships and financial aid - one of the top scholarships at UNL is one for Hispanic students. Resources such as the Office of Academic Support and Intercultural Services also provides underrepresented students academic support.
The evidence of this increase, both at UNL and nationally, took a lot of work.
"They pushed the 300-pound rock up the hill, even though it's icy and the wind was blowing," said Stick. "And they did it all by themselves."
andreavasquez@dailynebraskan.com
This trend was investigated in the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas by Brent Cejda, associate professor of educational administration and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Sheldon Stick, professor of educational administration at UNL and an associate professor from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
"A lot of them talked about a better life, and not just financially," Cejda said. "It goes back to the old adage: if you want to be a good citizen, you need to have a better education."
The Hispanic population has some of the lowest representations in higher education, Stick said, and has a culture that assigns women to domestic roles rather than professional roles.
"On one hand there is concern about ensuring access to higher education for all persons who are so inclined," Stick said. "They should be afforded the opportunity to participate fully."
Some of the obstacles Cejda and Stick found were poverty, early motherhood and a cultural emphasis on machismo, which is a view that exaggerates masculinity.
However, both Cejda and Stick noted a strong sense of competence among the women.
"(The women) realized that what they grew up with is not what they have to live with," Stick said. "By virtue of their own determination (they) have become successful."
The study also credited the women with maturity, goal-orientation, motivation and the ability to focus on long-term results. Two important factors motivating the women were the opportunity to earn higher wages to support their family and the importance of being a role model, said Cejda.
Most of the women interviewed in the study were first-generation college students in their families. That means their decisions to enroll were generally not planned, and many opt for a community college rather than a four-year, Stick said.
"Almost none of them thought about college before their junior year of high school," said Cejda. "If we can get some thinking about it ahead of time, it's more likely that you'll see more conscientious choices."
Policy makers can help encourage Hispanic students to pursue higher education by partnering with elementary schools or civic organizations and by making parents aware of opportunities and deadlines. Institutions can also contribute by offering long-term scholarships and financial aid, providing academic support and have supportive instructors.
When UNL finds and attracts talented minorities, the university does a good job of making a commitment to those students, Stick said. The university offers scholarships and financial aid - one of the top scholarships at UNL is one for Hispanic students. Resources such as the Office of Academic Support and Intercultural Services also provides underrepresented students academic support.
The evidence of this increase, both at UNL and nationally, took a lot of work.
"They pushed the 300-pound rock up the hill, even though it's icy and the wind was blowing," said Stick. "And they did it all by themselves."
andreavasquez@dailynebraskan.com
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