Latina Women: The Pursuit For Higher Education

Emely Tobar

Professor Mendoza

GWS 300 OL

December 6, 2014

The Pursuit for Higher Learning

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These are very significant careers in the work force; but there is one problem, very little women take part in these careers, let alone Latina women. This is why five Latina women went on a mission to inspire and empower Latinas to pursue, thrive, and advance in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. MIT Latina alumnae who had one goal for young women founded this organization; specifically for Latina women to break out of the barrier for careers that society expects them to pursue. These women came from under privileged families who immigrated to the United States

These women travel around schools in LAUSD, as well as around the nation to present their ideas to young Latina women, and display how pursuing careers in the STEM field is significant. They have several programs ranging from Kinder through twelfth grade outreach, to parent outreach, and a professional outreach; which focuses on challenging college students and early to mid career professionals to continue to advance in their careers. This foundation knows that it is important to target the student, as well as the parents because parents play a fundamental role in the career goal setting, college preparation, and overall success of their daughters. Latinas in STEMS’ secondary purpose is to help Latinas in STEM thrive in their college and professional careers through mentorship, networking, and recognition. They do this by setting a number of events, career fairs, and empowerment conferences in different colleges around the country. The events that these ladies have conducted have been a major hit, especially in the media. These women shared their personal stories as a way of displaying that they are not different from us, you have to struggle in order to gain success. Their stories show us that anything is possible, and truly motivate young women to pursue careers in

Answering why Latinas are lacking in STEM fields is way more complex then we think. Latinas are socialized not to think about pursuing a career, particularly not careers in the STEM field. Many times young girls are socialized to take over such tasks as caring for the home, attending to male roles in their families, and being care givers to children. Once young girls grow up, many times they are expected to take similar roles as homemakers. This is commonly seen in the Latino community, due to the machista attitudes rooted in the Latino Culture. Furthermore, the few women who decide to pursue higher learning do not incline to major in STEM. Many women tend to major in such fields of caregiving, teaching, and counseling. It is believed that the reason why many women major in such fields is because young girls are taught to be in service, and nurturing in patriarchy societies. Moreover, the perfect example of what women are taught growing up is displayed in feminist scholar Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Ted talk. “We teach girls to shrink themselves to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful; otherwise you will threaten the man." Society expects us to be successful, but not more successful than a man. Latinas face this struggle