Researcher ORCID Identifier

0009-0002-9246-893X

Graduation Year

2026

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Second Department

Chicano Studies

Reader 1

Dr. Jennifer Ma

Reader 2

Dr. Gilda Ochoa

Reader 3

Dr. Theodore Bartholomew; Dr. Martha Gonzalez

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Abstract

Undergraduates of Mexican descent are not a monolith; their experiences vary based on positionality and lived experiences within academia in the United States. This study explored the lived experiences of seven women of Mexican descent, ages 18 to 25, to examine how they experience and make meaning of music while developing their identities in college. A descriptive phenomenological approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews to explore participant’s lived experiences in relation to music. Identity development was contextualized in relation to cultural values, musical experiences, and participant positionalities. Interview questions addressed music engagement, conceptualizations of Chicanx culture, and the values participants derive from cultural traditions, including music. Findings indicate that alignment with the cultural meanings expressed in music was associated with participants’ sense of resilience and their use of music to navigate their college identities. Music functioned as a tool for identity affirmation by providing a means of occupying sonic space and asserting dignity within academic environments. A prominent theme across interviews was that culturally meaningful music affirmed and grounded participants while also serving as a vehicle for self-expression. Participants described resonating with musical narratives, which contributed to feelings of empowerment and a strengthened sense of identity.

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