“LA QUE SUFRE, LUCHA; Y LA QUE LUCHA, ¡VENCE!” A TRANSCENDENTAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MEXICAN AMERICAN WOMEN PURSUING A DOCTORATE IN TEXAS

This transcendental phenomenological study will explore the lived experiences of Southern Texas Mexican American/Chicana women pursuing a doctorate. The Chicana’s experience achieving a doctorate has been overlooked by the literature, with much of the research on Mexican American women being outdated or focusing on completing high school or getting a bachelor’s degree. In Texas, literature has found that Mexican American women receive slightly more doctoral-level education than males. Although in Texas, they may excel a tad more than males, many Chicanas do not reach their full potential. Mexican American women continue to be underrepresented and the least educated in the United States. Often Mexican American women find it difficult to reconcile the discrepancy between the culture, familial expectations and roles, and their ambitions. As a result, this research explores Mexican American females’ lived experiences pursuing a doctorate to discover motivators and challenges in their academic journeys. Additionally, this study will provide a more in-depth understanding of their educational experience. A Chicana feminist and symbolic interactionism theoretical framework will guide this research.