Abstract

OROZCO VARGAS, Arturo Enrique. La vida al otro lado de la frontera: estudio fenomenológico del proceso de aculturación de las mujeres hispanas en los Estados Unidos. La ventana [online]. 2015, vol.5, n.41, pp.197-239. ISSN 1405-9436.

The obstacles found on the route towards the United States and the adaptation to the American norms and customs entails a big challenge for Hispanic immigrants. The objective of this qualitative study was to investigate based on a phenomenological approach the meaning of the life experiences of eight women of Hispanic origin who are living in the Dallas metroplex in Texas. In order to achieve this goal, a semi-structured interview protocol was designed whose purpose was to explore the motives they had to leave their countries of origin and describe the main experiences they have lived in their own process of acculturation. In the participants experiences, specific factors strongly related to this process were identified, such as leaving their native countries in search of better economic conditions in the United States, feelings of nostalgia and sadness, the fear of being deported, the adaptation to the American culture, their children’s bilingualism, the continuous support of their family and friends, the possibility of working on the workforce, the barrier of English language and contact with other Latinos. As it was confirmed in this study, the presence of these factors is a key element for understanding the vicissitudes associated with the life of immigrants of Hispanic origin once they cross the border.

Keywords : acculturation; challenges; opportunities; assets; phenomenology.

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