Resisting invisibility: Women of color activists revealing the dynamics in identity centers and student organizations.

Abstract

In this research, I examine how Women of Color undergraduate students engaged in activism and advocacy in a predominantly White institution experience campus social justice centers or identity centers, and student organizations intended to support marginalized students. While literature has underscored how identity centers and student organizations can serve as spaces or refuges from experiences of exclusion and marginalization in the larger campus community, there is insufficient research on how said spaces are intended to advance inclusion or be inclusive, exclude Women of Color students. Using intersectionality and mestiza consciousness as interpretive tools, this research explores this experience, in addition to how Women of Color students maneuver identity centers and student organizations, and participate in and create multidimensional spaces. Findings underscore participants' critique of single-identity approaches, the distrust confirmed and cultivated with those they engage with, and how they seek to explore and raise their consciousness.

Evoking the guerrera spirit: Latinas pursuing self-definition and navigating college access.

“…As guerreras who have experienced our own challenges navigating academia, we remain committed to offering this work that explores Latinas as guerreras . This is particularly relevant with increased youth and college student resistance over the past decade (Hope et al, 2016; Lenzy, 2019; Lin, 2020; Mayes & Holdsworth, 2020; Rombalski, 2020) and being that Latinas remain on the periphery of resistance and activist research (González-Martin, 2020; Hernandez Rivera, 2023; Montoya & Seminario, 2022; Revilla, 2005). Thus, we argue that the data and the stories remain pertinent, particularly as it is important to understand the everyday resistance strategies Latinas engage in.…”

“…The impacts of maneuvering a predominantly White campus environment can then be riddled with experiences that Latinas may need to unpack and explore yet may not find space for as university campuses do not always provide Latinas with the opportunity to explore systems of oppression (J. Flores & Garcia, 2009; Hernandez Rivera, 2023).…”