Engineering Resistors: Engineering Latina/o Students and Emerging Resistant Capital

Abstract

This qualitative study examined how Latina/o engineering students, members of a student organization, used their emergent resistant capital in their academic trajectories. Their emergent resistant capital, as evident by three main themes, was characterized as a movement from conformist resistance toward transformative resistance. This study finds that emergent resistant capital enabled students to become engineering resistors by engaging in role modeling, doing community outreach, and resisting collectively. This study has research and policy implications for engineering programs aiming to serve Latina/o students.