Socio-spatial Geographies of Hispanic Immigrant Youth Accessing the Urban Labor Market

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Schuch, J. (2016). Socio-spatial Geographies of Hispanic Immigrant Youth Accessing the Urban Labor Market. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

This study combines interviews, questionnaires, journaling, mental mapping, and a participatory action research (PAR) project to examine the lived experiences of Hispanic immigrant youth as they navigate the labor market. Research questions address how youth are transitioning into the workforce in an age of labor insecurity, anti-immigrant sentiment and policy; what the challenges are; and how the youth propose to improve their job access. Attention is paid to how differences in documentation status, and other demographic and neighborhood variables, affect job access and how youth perceive their opportunities. Applying a mixed-methods, multi-scalar approach, this study captures how the personal and the local interconnect with the institutional at the local, state and national level. How youth operationalize and deal with their documentation status on a day-to-day basis is spatially contingent. Lack of documentation status is a factor that intersects with but tends to override other personal, household, and neighborhood characteristics. DACA has profound benefits on undocumented participants’ lives but it is not enough to secure their future. There is a lack of understanding about immigration policies and statuses by youth and their families, and employers, which can reduce job opportunities for non-citizen youth. Also, many Latino/a youth, regardless of their status, face stereotyping and discrimination at work, school, or in public spaces, based on their ethnicity. This impacts their work access, confidence, and aspirations. Family expectations and support are key in motivating and encouraging youth to work hard and achieve their dreams. Youth are also able to leverage their bilingualism, biculturalism, and "immigrant" determination in professional situations. In the face of challenges, youth present agency and resilience. The PAR project and avenues for change offered by youth support the idea that youth themselves know best how to improve their labor market opportunities, and they should be involved in the creation and implementation of these initiatives. Lastly, this study furthers our discussion about immigrant integration and segmented assimilation, and demonstrates how Hispanic youth experience socio-spatial labor market inclusion and exclusion.

Details
Author

Schuch, Johanna

Title

Socio-spatial Geographies of Hispanic Immigrant Youth Accessing the Urban Labor Market

Physical Description

1 online resource (549 pages) : PDF

Date

2016

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

This study combines interviews, questionnaires, journaling, mental mapping, and a participatory action research (PAR) project to examine the lived experiences of Hispanic immigrant youth as they navigate the labor market. Research questions address how youth are transitioning into the workforce in an age of labor insecurity, anti-immigrant sentiment and policy; what the challenges are; and how the youth propose to improve their job access. Attention is paid to how differences in documentation status, and other demographic and neighborhood variables, affect job access and how youth perceive their opportunities. Applying a mixed-methods, multi-scalar approach, this study captures how the personal and the local interconnect with the institutional at the local, state and national level. How youth operationalize and deal with their documentation status on a day-to-day basis is spatially contingent. Lack of documentation status is a factor that intersects with but tends to override other personal, household, and neighborhood characteristics. DACA has profound benefits on undocumented participants’ lives but it is not enough to secure their future. There is a lack of understanding about immigration policies and statuses by youth and their families, and employers, which can reduce job opportunities for non-citizen youth. Also, many Latino/a youth, regardless of their status, face stereotyping and discrimination at work, school, or in public spaces, based on their ethnicity. This impacts their work access, confidence, and aspirations. Family expectations and support are key in motivating and encouraging youth to work hard and achieve their dreams. Youth are also able to leverage their bilingualism, biculturalism, and "immigrant" determination in professional situations. In the face of challenges, youth present agency and resilience. The PAR project and avenues for change offered by youth support the idea that youth themselves know best how to improve their labor market opportunities, and they should be involved in the creation and implementation of these initiatives. Lastly, this study furthers our discussion about immigrant integration and segmented assimilation, and demonstrates how Hispanic youth experience socio-spatial labor market inclusion and exclusion.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Sociology
Geography
Ethnicity--Study and teaching
Hispanic Americans--Study and teaching

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Immigration
Latino Youth
Participatory Action Research (PAR)
Qualitative Methods
Segmented Assimilation
Socio-Spatial Inclusion/exclusion

Subject Area

Geography & Urban Regional Analysis

Advisor(s)

Smith, Heather

Committee Members

Furuseth, Owen
Wang, Qingfang
Coffman, Maren

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2016.

Rights Statement

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Schuch_uncc_0694D_11155

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:687