¡Culture empowers!: The pathways to degree attainment of first-generation Latinx student-athletes

Abstract

ABSTRACT One’s culture has the capacity to nurture and empower. Thereby, college students rely on their cultural capital to persist and graduate. However, the current system of higher education favors one type of culture over others, which presents a number of challenges for those who are members of the non-dominant groups, such as Latinxs, first-generation students, and student-athletes. As such, this study sought to explore the interplay of various forms of cultural capital as pathways to degree attainment of first-generation Latinx student-athletes. Under the guise of Latinx critical race theory, this qualitative study found cultural capital to be an essential pathway to degree attainment of first-generation Latinx student-athletes. Specifically, three themes emerged from the findings: (1) immigration status as a source of inspiration; (2) embracing Latinx cultural capital in athletic endeavors; and (3) fighting negative stigma about Latinxs through athletic and academic achievement. The study concludes with implications for practice as well as recommendations for future research.