CONTACTS:
• Tonda Liggett, Assistant Professor of Education, 360-546-9204, tonda_liggett@vancouver.wsu.edu
• Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu
VANCOUVER, Wash. - Tonda Liggett, Washington State University Vancouver assistant professor of education, received a Fulbright Specialist Award to study the role of gender for immigrant women and girls as they adjust to a new context in the United States. Liggett will use the results of her research overseas to help prepare teacher education students for an increasingly diverse classroom.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. It's designed to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries." Participants are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential. Winning a Fulbright is a huge honor. About 7,500 grants are awarded annually.
Liggett is particularly interested in understanding how gender roles affect the education of children from immigrant families in the United States. She says immigrant girls can be negatively assessed based on American perspectives of gender roles, which can hinder these students' education early in their schooling experience.
"For instance, there have been studies about behavior differences of Mexican girls that were perceived to be 'passive' and linked to teacher predictions of lower academic achievement. This 'passive behavior' influenced the grades these girls received, Liggett said. "Their behavior isn't a reflection of their cognitive ability it's a product of their heritage and family life."
Liggett hopes to see different perspectives on culture and gender issues than she would in the United States. She will then share her experience with education students to give them a new perspective on children from different cultures that may be in their classrooms.
Liggett said she doesn't know exactly when or where her research trip will take place. All she knows so far is that it will be some time in the next five years. The length will depend on the time of year and type of work.
"I was so focused on meeting the Fulbright application requirements that I didn't look beyond the possibility of actually receiving it," Liggett said.
She hopes her research trip can open doors for a longer overseas study to continue her research on the intersections of gender, language and culture.
"I'm trying to broaden my studies and develop partnerships with educators in different countries that struggle with and address these same issues," she said. "This is a big first step in that process."
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