School Social Workers as Nepantleras in Equity Work for Immigrant Students: A Conceptual Exploration

Authors

Sophia Rodriguez
Benjamin Roth, University of South Carolina
Leticia Villarreal Sosa, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2020

Abstract

This article investigates the critical role school social workers play in promoting equity and advocating for immigrant students in K–12 settings. We explore and conceptualize the notion of nepantlera from the work of Gloria Anzaldúa and draw from qualitative data to show how school social workers function as nepantleras in service and advocacy roles for immigrant students. We further argue that the school settings in which these services take place should be understood as borderlands. Throughout the article, we explore the following questions: What is a paradigm for school social worker practice with immigrant students that is informed by the concept of nepantlera? How do we begin to consider such a paradigm in a way that honors the complexity of Anzaldúa’s work? While pursuing these questions we present qualitative data from a national sample of school workers. We offer implications for a nepantlera-informed paradigm in school social work practice.

Comments

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Recommended Citation

Rodriguez, S., Roth, B., & Sosa, L. V. (2020). School social workers as nepantleras in equity work for immigrant students: A conceptual exploration. Social Service Review, 94(4), 748-780. https://doi.org/10.1086/712044

Publication Title

Social Service Review

DOI

10.1086/712044