Date of Award
Spring 5-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Education
First Advisor
Dr. Lilia D. Monzó
Second Advisor
Dr. Stephany Cuevas
Third Advisor
Dr. Michelle Gonzalez Maldonado
Abstract
This dissertation examines the experiences of Latina immigrant mothers and how they develop a sense of agency through their faith and community. I focus on how these mothers, Las Madres, conceptualize agency, coraje [courage], resilience, and faith, specifically within the context of their racialized, gendered, and class-related experiences. Using a critical narrative approach and theoretical frameworks, Latina Feminist Theology and Revolutionary Critical Pedagogy, I seek to understand how these factors shape their lives and drive their ability to act for themselves and their families while also navigating work, home, and church ministry. The purpose of this research is to understand how Las Madres make sense of their lives as immigrants and mothers, and how they respond to adversity through agency. The study is guided by the question: “How do Latina immigrant mothers engage with faith and develop agency toward adversity in their lives?”
Four interrelated themes emerged from pláticas: Survival, Surrendering to God, Belonging, and Mothers as Community Leaders. The survival patterns that emerged from the narratives were conceptualized as a maternal praxis of survival, shaped by their childhood, sustained by their faith, and their identities and responsibilities as mothers. Their experiences demonstrate that immigrant mothers are not just “helpers” but leaders, teachers, and organizers whose work impacts the home and broader spaces in society, including schools, neighborhoods, and communities. Findings suggest opportunities for future research in leadership, inclusion, and support.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Flores, C. B. (2026). Ímpetu y coraje del corazón maternal: Agency and acompañamiento in the lived experiences of immigrant Latina mothers [Doctoral dissertation, Chapman University]. Chapman University Digital Commons. https://doi.org/10.36837/chapman.000728