Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Lee, Crystal Deer
Author's Email Address	clee@lsu.edu
URN	etd-04052007-102159
Title	Hope for Today and Tomorrow: Identity Construction, Power, and Persistence of Community College Women Who Are First in Their Families to Attend College
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department	Educational Leadership, Research & Counseling
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Becky Ropers-Huilman Committee Chair Charles Teddlie Committee Member Laura Hensley Choate Committee Member Nina Asher Committee Member Donna Redmann Dean's Representative
Keywords	community college participation involvement persistence identity women first-generation
Date of Defense	2007-03-07
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This dissertation was a case study of four community college women who were first in their families to attend college. Through this study, the “first-generation” construct was analyzed in regard to its uses and limits. The researcher found the label as an identifier becomes problematic through social discourse. These results confirm London’s (1996) finding that students themselves do not necessarily find anything unique about their situations or anything in common with other students simply based on their being the first in their families to attend college. Therefore, the “first-generation” construct may be viewed primarily as a higher education versus an individual construct. This study further explored the ways in which the participants constructed their own identities and challenges related to participation and persistence. A significant finding was participants’ distinctions of their career and academic identities. Another significant finding was the students’ expressions of personal control over their finances and life choices in general. All four of the students held positive outlooks for their futures regarding gaining more independence, achieving their personal or professional goals, and becoming “smarter.” None of the four students viewed themselves as powerless or at risk.
Files	Filename       Size       Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)     28.8 Modem   56K Modem   ISDN (64 Kb)   ISDN (128 Kb)   Higher-speed Access    CLEEDISSERTATION.pdf 53.11 Mb 04:05:53 02:06:27 01:50:39 00:55:19 00:04:43