Interrogating Vulnerabilities and Protective Factors Among Latina/o Graduate Students: A 30-Year Synthesis of the Literature

Prior reviews have documented Latina/o students’ experiences at K–12 and undergraduate levels; yet, there is a dearth of scholarship about the adversity they face and factors that contribute to their successes within graduate contexts. Guided by intersectional r(ac)esilience as a framework, the purpose of this systematic review is to interrogate vulnerabilities and protective factors encountered by Latinas/os as they navigate and progress toward degree completion. Our 30-year review, covering scholarship from 1990–2020, revealed five vulnerabilities: (1) negative encounters with institutional agents, (2) prevalence of systems of oppression, (3) contentious familismo, (4) navigating uncharted waters, and (5) self-doubt and the infiltrator experience and five protective factors: (1) supportive institutional agents, (2) r(ac)esilience and the role of social identities, (3) leveraging peer networks, (4) familismo as collective support, and (5) the imperative role of funding. We conclude by offering guidance on ways to expand the current knowledge base through asset-based frameworks and methodologies, as well as practices for institutional agents that work with Latina/o students.