Latinos' politics topic of research

There was the mother from East Los Angeles who refused to cook dinner unless her family marched in a rally against Proposition 187, which would deny social services, healthcare and public education, to illegal immigrants.

There were Latino seniors at Garfield High School who walked out of their classrooms in 1994 because they believed 187 was unfair.

A few miles north of East Los Angeles, there was "Johnny," a Latino from Montebello who didn't think political mobilization would make a difference in the country, let alone his neighborhood.

In her research of Latinos in the Los Angeles area, Lisa Garcia Bedolla — associate professor of Political Science and Chicano/Latino Studies at UC Irvine — found that various factors drive Latinos to join or ignore political movements. Bedolla shared her research with more than 70 audience members Wednesday at California Lutheran University's Samuelson Chapel in Thousand Oaks.

In her book "Fluid Borders: Latino Power, Identity and Politics in Los Angeles," Bedolla concentrated her research in two areas: in East Los Angeles, where she spoke to 25 seniors at Garfield High School and 25 people who attended the high school's adult school; and 25 students from Montebello High School and 25 students in Montebello's adult school. Bedolla did the research from the summer of 1996 to February 1997.

Looking at Latinos from the two different areas, Bedolla found that a higher socioeconomic status doesn't necessarily mean an individual will vote or become politically active.

"The literature would tell you that people from Montebello, because they were wealthier, more educated ? that those people would be the most engaged," Bedolla said. "In fact, it was the opposite. The working class communities (in East Los Angeles) were the most engaged, particularly the women. This speaks to the stereotype that Latino women are humble and don't get involved - that this stereotype is not necessarily true."

The threat against opportunities in their children's education and pursuit for a better life prompted many workingclass Latinos and recent immigrants to participate in political movements, Bedolla said.

Bedolla said it is also important to understand the broader political context and examine how people feel about themselves, their community and their position of power.

Jamshid Damooei, economics professor and co-director of CLU's Center for Leadership and Values in the School of Business, said Bedolla's findings shed light not only on what drives Latinos politically, but other ethnic groups as well.

"I think her work is extremely valuable and groundbreaking in a sense that she looks at these stereotypes, which have never been put through a rigorous study like this," Damooei said. "Knowing the fundamental differences in the way voters- — Latinos, African Americans, Caucasians, etc.-- — and how they are involved ? are very important because there are policy implications."