Latin American immigrant mothers in Spain: Perceived challenges and opportunities

Abstract

This paper reports on interviews with 13 mothers and expectant mothers who had immigrated from Latin American countries and were living in Asturias, Spain. The purpose of the study was to investigate the Latinas’ post-immigration perceptions, attitudes, and experiences. Qualitative analysis revealed several themes in the women’s interview responses. Two of those themes – post-immigration challenges and opportunities found in Spain – are the focus of this paper. Evidence of three main types of challenge and three main types of opportunity is provided based on the Latinas’ responses. A discussion section follows, relating the women’s perceptions of challenges and opportunities to circumstances in Spain and differences in Spanish and Latin American cultures and societies.