Chapter 5: The Impact of Machismo in Latinx Men Seeking a Higher Education

In the past decade, there has been an increase in Latinx students enrolled in college, with Latinx students accounting for 20% of the total student college population in the United States (Postsecondary National Policy Institute, 2020). The dramatic increase in Latinx representation in higher education is welcome news but also with a few caveats. First, the increase seems primarily tied to the demographic growth of the Latinx community rather than an intentional inclusion of Latinx students. Second, the increase has been almost exclusively Latinx women, with the presence and persistence of Latinx men in university institutions constituting an unexamined crisis with potential long-term implications. Quandt and Arcury (2020) emphasized that a high percentage of Latinx men are employed in construction, maintenance, and service occupations, partly due to low levels of education. In 2016, Latinx men accounted for 42% of the total undergraduate enrollment compared to 58% of Latinx women (Santiago et al., 2019). A similar comparison can be seen at the graduate level, where Latinx men represented 37% of Latinx graduate student enrollment compared to 63% of Latinx women (Santiago et al., 2019). The disproportional underrepresentation of Latinx men in higher education means that most higher education studies are focused on Latinx women, with a minor and fading focus on the unique experiences of Latinx men.