Latino Professionals in America

<p>In <i>Latino Professionals in America</i> Maria Chávez combines rich qualitative interviews auto-ethnographic accounts and policy analysis to explore the converging oppressions that make it difficult for Latinos to become professionals and to envision themselves as successful in those professions. Recounting her own story Chávez interviews 31 Latino professionals from across the nation in a variety of occupations and careers contextualizing their experiences amid family struggles and ongoing racism in the United States. She addresses gender inequality within the Latino community arguing that by defending rationalizing or ignoring patriarchy within the Latino community perpetuates systems of oppression—especially for women; gay lesbian bisexual transgender and queer individuals; and others at the intersections. The experiences of these Latino professionals and the author’s analysis provide a blueprint for what works—one both pragmatic and hopeful that uses real lives to illustrate how a combination of public policies people and perseverance increases the presence of America’s fastest-growing demographic group in the professional class. </p>