Diversity

Manufacturing Hope & Despair: The school and Kin Support Networks of U.S.-Mexican Youth."

Stanton-Salazar's article on Mexican youth focuses on the plight of Mexican-American high school students and their experiences and views of the world, including their building of social networks (Hill, 2001). The author emphasizes the importance of diversity and empowerment among students in high school and later in life. Mr. Stanton-Salazar collected data from a San Francisco survey and a second survey of students collected in San Diego, which both incorporate qualitative and qualitative research (Hill, 2001).

Stanton-Salazar examines the views Mexican high school students have of there social networks as a side effect of race, gender and class among working-class youths (Hill, 2001). One point he argues is that social networks are typically seen as the way in which students integrate in school, and social networks typically form regardless of a student's race, class and gender (Hill, 2001).

Part II:

One point the author makes is that if a student comes from a Spanish speaking household, in order to fit in they must give up their native language and instead speak English only, in order to reduce conflict and gain more success (Hill, 2001 & Valenzuela, 1999). True, in high school and later in life successful social and professional networks are commonly founded on the principle that individuals need to find commonality, and "fit in" in order to achieve the greatest success. The author notes and emphasizes however, the importance of empowerment, and states that it is important for students to realize their potential to "mobilize on their own supportive capacities of various network members" (Stanton-Salazar, 213).

Students are encouraged to utilize the strengths they have within their own networks and families to gain support and succeed.

Bibliography

Hill, David. (2001). "Manufacturing Hope and Despair: The School and Kin Support

Networks of U.S. Mexican Youth." Stanton-Salazar, Ricardo D. New York: Teachers College Press, 2001. 332pp. Retrieved January 17, 2003, from, http://www.aaanet.org/cae/aeq/br/stanton_salazar.htm

Valenzuela, Angela. "1999 Subtractive Schooling: U.S. Mexican youth and the Politics of Caring." New York: State University of New York.