Abstract
This paper discusses the subjects of class, stereotypes, immigrant business ownership, and the Hispanic business community. It examines the role that class plays in immigrant’s business owner’s ability to move beyond the stereotypes that have kept others in their community from being successful. The author uses the analogy of the need to look beyond the skin of a tiger, past its stripes, to its insides to recognize the diversity inherent in immigrant business communities. In this study, the author does not refer to class in the traditional socio-economic sense, but uses the term "resource" instead. She describes the distinction between class resources and ethnic resources when describing the richness of the Hispanic business community in Worcester, Massachusetts where the research was conducted. The study was conducted in two phases: Phrase one involves a general needs assessment of 40 Hispanic businesses. In Phase two of the research the author interviewed 5 business owners from phase one at length of their response.
Recommended Citation
Rosenberg, Elizabeth, "Beyond the tiger's stripes: examining the role of resources in breaking down stereotypes about the Hispanic business community" (1999). Capstone Collection. 538.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/538