The Firsts: Latina Struggles in the United States

A Stories and Voices program

In a talk that draws on interviews with Latinas from a wide range of professions, join Maria Chávez for an exploration of the complicated challenges Latina professionals face.

Latinas/Latinos, the largest ethno-racial group in Washington State and in the nation, are grossly underrepresented in powerful segments of society, contributing to what some scholars refer to as a “demographic divide.”

While the United States is an increasingly diverse society, this diversity is not reflected in important spheres of influence and power. In just one example, Latinas/Latinos represent just two percent of full-time faculty at degree-granting institutions, yet Latina/Latino students are the fastest growing demographic on college campuses. What needs to be done to increase academic representation?

Drawing from interviews, policy analysis, and personal experience, Professor Maria Chávez investigates the obstacles contributing to this underrepresentation and explores ideas for how to move toward a more inclusive society and a healthier multiracial democracy.

Join us and learn about the histories, contributions, and lived experiences of those around us as we uplift community voices and explore stories that act as mirrors of our own lives and windows into experiences different from our own.

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