Spring 2021

Immigration and the New Latino Second Generation

Listed in: American Studies, as AMST-326  |  Anthropology and Sociology, as SOCI-326

Faculty

Leah C. Schmalzbauer (Section 01)

Description

(Offered as AMST 326 and SOCI 326) This course focuses on Latino immigrant youth and the children of Latino immigrants who are coming of age in the contemporary United States, what social scientists have termed the “new second generation.” Currently this generation is the fastest-growing demographic of children under 18 years of age. The majority of youth in the “new second generation” are Latino.

Drawing on sociological and anthropological texts, fiction, and memoir, we will explore the social factors, historical legacies, and policies that in large part shape the lived experiences of Latino youth. We begin by laying a historical and theoretical base for the course, exploring the notions of assimilation and transnationalism. We then move into an exploration of the intersecting contexts of inequality which contextualize daily life for the new second generation. Specifically we investigate how social class, race, gender, and “illegality” intersect with generation to shape the struggles, opportunities, identities and aspirations of Latino youth.

Requisite: Previous course(s) in SOCI, ANTH, AMST, BLST or LLAS. Limited to 15 students. Spring semester. Professor Schmalzbauer.

If Overenrolled: Priority given to Sociology and American Studies majors followed by seniors on down.

Offerings

2022-23: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2015, Fall 2017, Spring 2021