Information behavior and ICT use of Latina immigrants to the U.S. Midwest

Abstract

Latina immigrants to the U.S. Midwest are a vibrant, complex, and resilient population of women with intersectional identities stemming from their participation in at least three distinct but interrelated communities: (1) women [in a family-centric culture defined by strong gender roles], (2) immigrants [potentially with linguistic and socioeconomic status disadvantages] and (3) residents of the U.S. Midwest [a low-population/rural area with lesser access to resources and an increasingly xenophobic host community]. Given the potential for marginalization, Latina immigrants to the Midwest represent a population vulnerable to digital exclusion. The current research is the first to investigate systematically ICT use by immigrant Latinas to the U.S. Midwest. Specifically, as consumers and users of technology-mediated information, Latina immigrants to the U.S. Midwest navigate a complex and understudied social environment. To develop a strategy to begin to break down technology barriers for these women, first the complex and interconnected nature of their social environment and information practices needs to be understood; the current article presents that foundational research.