A new majority: How do Latino youth succeed in the context of low educational expectations and assumptions of sexual irresponsibility?

Background. Latina/o youth are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States and are disproportionately impacted by unplanned pregnancies, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections as compared to their White counterparts. Prior research has attributed these disparities to factors such as earlier onset of sexual activity, lack of family communication around sexuality, inconsistent use of condoms/contraception, gender inequality, and cultural/religious beliefs. Less attention has been paid to how Latina/o youth reconcile sexuality, pregnancy, family expectations, stigmatized portrayals, and desire for higher educational attainment. Methods. A mixed-methods approach (90 interviews, 16 focus groups and 250 surveys) was used across diverse urban and agricultural geographic locations to understand how Latino youth's perception of society's prejudice towards Latino youth, low expectations for educational success, and structural inequalities impact sexual decision-making and pregnancy planning. A Youth Advisory Group contributed to all aspects of the research content and implementation protocols. Results. Youth access to positive role models and adults who empower them play a significant role in promoting positive self-image. Internalized racism was evident among many youth, and lack of perceived opportunities beyond stereotyped work, i.e., working in the fields, house-cleaning, gardening was common. Many youth want to defy the negative stereotypes and are working hard to become successful in their lives despite the many structural challenges they face. Conclusion. There is an urgent need to reframe the current discourse about Latino youth and address the underlying systemic factors in order to develop proactive policy recommendations to promote positive sexual health and educational outcomes.