“It’s Sort of My Calling”: The Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility of Latino Immigrant-Origin Young Adults

Carola Suárez-Orozco, María G. Hernández, Saskias Casanova

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe civic patterns of engagement of Latino first- and secondgeneration (immigrant-origin) young adults and to provide insights into what differentiates these patterns. Based on 58 in-depth interviews with 18- to 25-year-olds of Dominican, Mexican, and Central American origin, the authors first established variations in different levels of civic engagement profiles. The authors then analyzed the characteristics that distinguish these civic profiles, considering demographic variables (generation, gender, education level, and undocumented status) as well as motivations for civic engagement. Two thirds of first- and second-generation participants were actively engaged, though variations in patterns emerged across civic profiles; undocumented status appeared a particularly salient driver of engagement. The authors found that rather than being instrumentally and individually motivated, Latino immigrant-origin young adults were primarily motivated to be civically engaged by social responsibility as well as by social (in)justices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)84-99
Number of pages16
JournalResearch in Human Development
Volume12
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 3 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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