The experiences of latinas in Master of Social Work programs

The purpose of this study was to explore the graduate school experience of Latinas and how race, class, and gender inequalities have shaped these students’ experiences in college. This researcher examined the educational experiences and struggles of Latinas acquiring higher education. The intent was to gain a deeper understanding of the personal backgrounds and institutional contexts that contributed to academic success in a master of social work program. This research involved in-depth interviews of Chicanas/Latinas and how they experienced a master of social work program in the California State University system. The understudied experiences of Chicanas/Latinas provided a glimpse of what is observed by this particular ethnic group while in the pursuit of higher education at a state-run institution. The five major findings in this study, indicated that (1) graduate school knowledge and (2) financial burden have significantly influenced their perception of social work programs in the central valley. The respondents’ (3) ethnic identity, their particular (4) race/ethnicity as a graduate student in an MSW program, and (5) faculty microaggressions have affected participants perceptions’ as well. Ultimately, these five overarching themes negatively shaped Chicanas/Latinas experiences in a social work graduate program.