Developing Latinx Leaders

Latinx have been identified as the largest ethnic or racial minority within the United States. Latina youth have the opportunity to shape the workforce and their communities. But these students need resources today to become the leaders of tomorrow.

There’s just one problem: Little research has been done in the past with any kind of focus on Latina youth and their leadership identity development. Not much had been done to explore how gender, ethnicity and social relationships influence their process. That’s important information to help this segment of the population flourish as future leaders!

As a result, a recent study was conducted that involved students aged 13 to 17 who primarily identified as Hispanic or Latina and learned about their heritage from family. The point of the research was to illustrate how programs and schools might design more culturally inclusive curriculum that includes Latina leaders as well as leadership education that incorporates a broader range of skills and styles.

Through the interviews, researchers discovered the students’ leadership inspiration had come from their close family members, friends, teachers and program leaders. These youth primarily learned how to lead informally through structured activities in school such as sports or clubs. Yet, their views on leadership expanded beyond this context and was thought to be community-focused, democratic, and transformative.

Furthermore, they reflected differences in how men and women lead. Whereas women were thought to be more strategic, team oriented, uncomfortable expressing themselves, considerate and empathetic, men were viewed as faster, impulsive, objective and unemotional.

The students also shared the lack of prominent, influential Latina leaders at the local and national levels and felt cultural stereotypes still controlled people’s perceptions of Latina women. However, they drew inspiration and observed leadership in action through Proyecto Mariposas, a program for Latina moms and daughters.

Hopefully, as this critical research continues, we can work to successfully prepare the future Latinx leaders of tomorrow for the important work ahead of them.