Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

11-18-2024

Abstract

In this chapter, we embark on a journey to explore the hopes for a better future, the American Dream, shared by a group of transnational, first-generation Hispanic/Latino college students located along the border between the United States of America (Texas) and Mexico (Tamaulipas). We gathered the data through a blend of ethnographic interviews and surveys to unravel, juxtapose, and deliberate upon the experiences shared. Employing a thematic analysis methodology inspired by Braun and Clarke (2006), we categorize the data into two overarching categories. The first category delves into the social and virtual spaces where the ideals of the American Dream take shape and evolve. Meanwhile, the second category explores participants’ social network activities that contribute to the formation of their identities, drawing from a tapestry of social and cultural imaginaries. Furthermore, our analysis extends to unraveling the complexities of language and communication within the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.

Comments

It is deposited under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.

First Page

44

Last Page

59

Publication Title

Digital Culture and the U.S.-Mexico Border

DOI

10.4324/9781003519263-5

Available for download on Monday, May 18, 2026

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