Maria Chávez 

The Firsts: Latina Struggles in the United States

Many Latinas face extraordinary challenges in their professions and personal lives. They are often first-generation college students whose parents may have little experience with higher education. This results in a difficult balancing act: they are trying not to let the process of earning a college education change them in ways that are antithetical to traditional Latino values, yet they are often expected to help with family care and responsibilities that can take priority over their studies and careers. 

In a talk that draws from interviews of Latinas from across a wide range of professions, as well as from her own personal experiences, join Maria Chávez for an exploration of the complicated challenges Latina professionals face. Chávez also offers ideas for how to provide Latinas with support and solutions. 

Maria Chávez (she/her) is a professor of political science at Pacific Lutheran University specializing in American government, public policy, and Latino Politics. As a first-generation college graduate herself, her work centers on the progress of and barriers to Latinos in the U.S. She was awarded the American Political Science Association’s Best Book in Latino Politics twice: first for Everyday Injustice, and most recently for Latino Professionals in America.

Chávez lives in Lacey.

Words, Writers, Southwest Stories is a monthly speaker series of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society with support from Humanities Washington, 4Culture, and the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture.