Latinas Face Obstacles in Education, Study Says

Latinas are less likely to graduate from high school or college than females in any other ethnic group in the United States, according to a study to be released today.

The findings by the American Assn. of University Women Educational Foundation indicate that there are deficiencies in financial, social and cultural resources in education for Latinas, who are the fastest-growing ethnic minority among American women, researchers said.

“Latinas have additional pressures and stresses on them that no other population has,” said Jacqueline Woods, executive director of the association. “We need to be aware of [these pressures].”

The report, written by Angela Ginorio and Michelle Huston of the Northwest Center for Research on Women in Seattle, also found that Latinas are less likely to take the SAT exam in high school and that those who do score lower, on average, than white or Asian American females. Although they take the test more than Latino males, they also score lower.

And Latinas are underrepresented in classes for gifted students, the report found.

Among Latinas in the Southwestern states and California, the report notes, just 5% of those 25 or older had completed four or more years of college, compared with 21% of white women, 31% of Asian women and 14% of African American women.

Latinas face the same barriers to education as Latino males and other minority groups. But they face additional challenges too, the report said.

Ginorio said that in Latino culture, family is often perceived to be the female’s primary responsibility, and this may be why parents are reluctant to send daughters away to college or to encourage educational opportunities.

“There is an expectation that girls should go to college, but the college has to be within commuting distance,” Ginorio said. “It seems that this is a particular burden for Latina girls. They work; they do child care; they are expected to cook. And children from bilingual families also do a lot of translation for their families.”

Judy Campbell, a college counselor at Hollywood High School--where 65% of the students are Latino--said her experiences corroborate the report’s findings.

When Latinas are admitted into prestigious colleges across the country, their parents often will not let them go, she said.

“They want them to stay home and do the traditional thing: get married and have kids,” she said.

Gabriela Ayala, 17, a senior at Hollywood High, said it’s not easy for students to tell their parents they want to go away to college.

“I think a lot of students may be torn between what their parents want and what they want to do,” she said. “I think that a lot of the parents want to see their daughters succeed, but at the same time they still want them at home, because they have to stay and help the family out, either financially or in other ways.”

“It’s a little different for girls because they have less freedom than boys,” she said. “For example, parents tend to be a little more overprotective of girls. So it may be easier for a Latino boy to head off and go to college than for a girl.”

But other Latina students disagreed with the study’s findings.

“Most of my classmates are Latina girls, and they are all planning on going to college, and they all have high goals,” said Arlene Monzon, a senior at Hollywood High.

Monzon is applying for scholarships and wants to attend Cal State Northridge. She said her parents, who were born in Guatemala, support her.

“They prefer that I stay in the area, but it’s my choice,” she said. “Yes, it would be nice to have family nearby, but my first priority is which school is best for me.”

Latinas may also face barriers unrelated to gender.

“Contrary to popular perception, Latino families really want their children to be educated,” Ginorio said. “But that is not always possible. There are many barriers, ranging from financial issues to where people are living. Are high schools equipped to serve a group that has a different set of values?”

Immigrant parents of Latino students may not be able to help their children with homework or college applications, she said.

“If that child comes from a household where no parent has graduated from high school, then that child doesn’t have many resources to turn to,” she said. “If the school doesn’t provide it, then that child has less chances to find it.”

Also, financial aid programs and scholarships are often available only to U.S. citizens, which limits the of some Latino students, she said.

Ginorio said she hopes the study will give educators more insight into the needs of Latinas. She hopes schools will develop bilingual programs to encourage education for both students and parents.

“I think that all schools and universities need to look at who are they serving and how are they serving them,” she said. “I really wish that this will start a national conversation about issues for Latinas that will include parents and students, as well as policymakers and educators.”