Open AccessConverting Capital: The Experiences of Latinas/os in Graduate Health Care Programs
Author(s) -
Maristela C. Zell
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1101
Subject(s) - cultural capital , sociocultural evolution , social capital , sociology , qualitative research , capital (architecture) , storytelling , health care , pedagogy , psychology , public relations , social science , economic growth , political science , narrative , anthropology , economics , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , history
This qualitative study combines critical race theory, cultural capital theory, and counter-storytelling to examine the experiences of Latina/o in graduate health care programs. Community cultural wealth provided the framework to investigate the mechanisms by which students converted their sociocultural assets into the kinds of social, cultural, and educational capital needed to succeed in a graduate program and pursue their career goals. A qualitative content analysis was employed to interpret participants’ conversion experiences. The forms of community cultural wealth described by Yosso – aspirational, linguistic, familial, navigational, social, and resistant – intersected and interacted with one another. Aspirational and linguistic forms of capital were converted into occupational attainment; familial capital was converted into educational and occupational outcomes; navigational and social forms of capital were converted into educational outcomes, and resistant capital was converted into civic engagement. Recommendations for practice and future research are discussed.