Abstract

As the rates of immigration rise within the United States, it is essential to discuss and bring awareness to the neglect and discrimination that immigrants and subsequently the children of immigrants face within the nation. We know about the journey of immigrants and the effects of such but what about their children? Those who did not specifically make the travel to a foreign country but had the “privilege” to be born there? The aim of this study is to investigate the impacts of children of immigrants’ experience in their childhood with this identity and their potential effects into their adulthood by looking into their education, health, and social life. Through a series of online interviews (n=13) with Latinx children of immigrants around the age of 18-30, this thesis found effects in all three areas. For education, participants in their childhood had less school activity participation, language barriers, and differing peer engagement which later affected their perspective and view on education creating pressure to succeed. In regard to health, in their childhood there was a buildup of stress and responsibilities that created elevated anxieties and learned feelings of privilege that as adults they continue to feel yet are working to unlearn. Lastly, in their social life participants explained that in their childhood they missed out on varying social events and yearned to conform to American standards, and as adults now they are working up to catch up to peers while simultaneously embracing their immigrant and Latinx identity.

Advisor

Kristi Rendahl

Committee Member

Shawna Petersen-Brown

Committee Member

Luis Posas

Date of Degree

2022

Language

english

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Program of Study

Human Service Planning and Administration

College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

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Rights Statement

In Copyright