Controlling Images: Institutional Stereotypes of Engagement of Low-Income Families, First-Generation Families, and Families of Color

Abstract

This multiple case study examines how higher education institutions utilize controlling images to establish guidelines of family engagement, including that of first-generation families, low-income families, and/or families of color. Family engagement is limited to the extent to which it aligns with controlling images that paint families as overly involved or as uninterested, disengaged, and absent from the college experience of their children. This research contributes to our understanding of institutional responsibility when engaging diverse families. By utilizing controlling images as a framework, the article critically examines the stereotypes ascribed to families that shape their engagement experiences. Institutional, practice-based, and research implications are offered.

Keywords

• higher education
• family engagement
• diversity
• equity
• inclusion
• stereotypes