Group to help support Latinas on campus

Among the many different clubs and groups on campus one can find just about anything to suit their interest. One of these entities is the Latina Women's Support Group.

The Group meets every Monday to discuss and share ideas about cultural identity, family, relationships, social issues and to create a support network for Latinas' successes and struggles at CSULB.

One of the areas this group has been most helpful with is adjusting to university life. Especially for first year Latina students who sometimes "need help adjusting to the changes that come about by being the first woman in (their) family to ever, not only complete high school, but continue on to higher education," says Bettina M. Delgado-Collins, psychologist at the University Counseling Center and facilitator of the support group.

Common issues raised in the meetings involve a woman's role in Latino culture, in the Latino family, and how to incorporate them successfully with a job and career.

Relationships with parents is another major issue often discussed by the women in the support group.

"It's not uncommon for some women to come from traditional families where parents do not feel comfortable with women leaving the home unless she's married," says Dr. Delgado-Collins. "And so for her to even consider moving into a dorm room or apartment (to be closer to school) is an issue."

The Group's primary purpose is to be a "support wrap group." Its loose structure does not entail any outside activities.

Dr. Delgado-Collins says that the women are already inundated with many responsibilities at school, at work and with their families.

By not requiring too much of an individual's time, Dr. Delgado-Collins says this "allows them time to get involved with other campus activities and just be more diverse in the things that they associate with and have exposure to."

By encouraging this diversity, Dr. Delgado-Collins says the women have the opportunity to expand not only their interests, but their support group as well. They make more friends who help with homework and missed classes.

The Group has indeed made a difference in the lives of many Latina women. As facilitator, Dr. Delgado-Collins says there is a recurrent theme each semester in which the Group makes a difference.

"First year women students often find their freshman year pretty overwhelming," says Dr. Delgado-Collins. "They feel like they are not going to make it (through the class load)," and "they are not getting the support from their families" to deal with it.

But thanks to this group, women who attend the discussions meet others who are just like them.

They share concerns with other women who are going through the same problems as themselves and they soon overcome this feeling of isolation.

"By the second year as a sophomore," says Dr. Delgado-Collins, "they are really involved (in school activities) and have successfully made the shift into the university life."

Although the Group's encounters emphasize the sharing of ideas and experiences, feedback is often a result among group members between people who have similar experiences.

Dr. Delgado-Collins says this type of communication helps women share advice in dealing with confusing issues within their culture.

Dr. Delgado-Collins also emphasizes that although the Group has "Latina" in the title, this should not discourage women from other cultures from attending and seeking support for their particular issues. "You don't have to talk if you don't want to.

You can just come and listen if that's what you feel comfortable with." Dr. Delgado-Collins adds. The Group is "simply there to help anyone who needs it."

The Group meets every Monday at 1 p.m. in the Women's Resource Center. With changing class schedules, attendance varies from one semester to the next.

This is one reason why Dr. Delgado-Collins says they keep the meeting times the same. "Over the years we have decided to do this so that whoever can come knows when and where they can come."

For more information about the Latina Women's Support Group those interested may contact Dr. Bettina M. Delgado-Collins at (310) 985-4001.

Gisele Durham is a special reporter to the Daily Forty-Niner.