CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Transgenerational
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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Transgenerational Experiences of Latino Youth and Immigrant Parents A graduate project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master in Social Work By Ana Cacao in collaboration with Sheila Alfaro-Santiago May 2016 The graduate project of Ana Cacao is approved: ____________________________________ ______________ Dr. Sarah Mountz Date ____________________________________ ______________ Dr. Amy Levin Date ____________________________________ ______________ Dr. Jodi Brown, Chair Date California State University, Northridge ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This author would like to thank her research partner Sheila Alfaro-Santiago, who worked collaboratively and diligently on this project and who gave her unconditional support. I would also like to acknowledge Sarah Mountz, Ph.D., MSW and Jose Paez, LCSW, who guided Sheila and I through this project, provided their support, and who gave us a different lens to understand the social inequities of the world we live in that helped inspire this project. Lastly, thank you to all the participants who committed their time and energy to participate in this research project. iii DEDICATION This project is dedicated to my parents who immigrated to this country in search of a better life and taught me the value of working hard, being humble, and the importance of striving for higher education. This project is also dedicated to my husband who has given me his unconditional love and support throughout my educational journey. I would also like to dedicate this to my unborn child who I am currently pregnant with. May she understand the struggles of her immigrant mother and family and may she strive for social equality. Lastly, I would like to dedicate this to all the Latinos who like myself have immigrated to this country, worked hard, and strive every day for a better life. May we continue to grow and help others to create a better future generation. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS SIGNATURE PAGE .................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................1 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................2 History of Trauma ..................................................................................2 Historical and Transgenerational Trauma ..............................................4 Immigration and Trauma .......................................................................6 Transmission of Trauma ........................................................................7 Transgenerational Trauma and Resilience .............................................9 III. METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................11 Participants ...........................................................................................11 Recruitment ..........................................................................................11 Study Procedures .................................................................................11 Photovoice............................................................................................12 IV. RESULTS ..................................................................................................14 Family ..................................................................................................14 Education .............................................................................................16 Language ..............................................................................................18 v Inferiority .............................................................................................19 Employment .........................................................................................20 Coping Strategies..................................................................................22 Fear ......................................................................................................24 Intrinsic Motivation .............................................................................26 Community ..........................................................................................26 V. DISCUSSION .................................................................................................27 Outcomes .............................................................................................27 Limitations ...........................................................................................30 Future Research ...................................................................................30 Implications for Social Work ...............................................................31 Conclusion ...........................................................................................32 REFERENCES ...............................................................................................33 Appendix A ....................................................................................................36 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Enough to Eat ..............................................................................................15 Figure 2. Having a Home .............................................................................................15 Figure 3. Support Parents .............................................................................................15 Figure 4. No Other Option ...........................................................................................17 Figure 5. Continue Learning ........................................................................................17 Figure 6. Sadness .........................................................................................................17 Figure 7. Bilingual Strength .........................................................................................18 Figure 8. Academics and Language .............................................................................18 Figure 9. Less than Others ...........................................................................................19 Figure10. America Today ............................................................................................20 Figure 11. I Feel Small.................................................................................................20 Figure 12. Skills and Pay .............................................................................................21 Figure 13. Home Depot................................................................................................21 Figure 14. Home ..........................................................................................................22 Figure 15. Beach ..........................................................................................................22 Figure 16. One Love ....................................................................................................23 Figure 17. Passport.......................................................................................................23 Figure 18. City .............................................................................................................23 Figure 19. Fear .............................................................................................................24 Figure 20. Mountains ...................................................................................................25 Figure 21. Food Truck .................................................................................................26 Figure 22. Friends ........................................................................................................27 vii Figure 23. Latino Community......................................................................................27 viii Abstract Transgenerational Experiences of Latino Youth and Immigrant Parents By Ana Cacao Master of Social Work The present research used the Photovoice method to examine the possibility that Latino youth born in the United States, who are the children of Latino immigrant parents, may experience transgenerational trauma. It also aims to explore the experiences that Latino immigrant parents have endured. Latino immigrants may suffer several types of trauma such as separation from support networks, discrimination, relocation, and traumatic events they may have endured in the process of immigrating. These experiences can influence the trajectory of an individual's’ life and may be passed along to their offspring. The Photovoice method was chosen for this study as it is a powerful approach to qualitative data which allows for disadvantaged and marginalized communities such as immigrants to tell their story through photography and storytelling. Taking part in this study were 4 adult children of immigrants who were born in the United States