Invisible Barriers to Coastal Access for Latinx/e Students at UCSB

Coastal and beach spaces have been found to be some of the most restorative environments for well-being, yet invisible barriers prevent all populations from experiencing these benefits equally. My research uncovers this at UCSB, exploring the Latinx/e student experience of coastal spaces. UCSB is unique as one of the few Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) located directly on the coastline, meaning many first-generation and Latinx/e students are experiencing living near the coast for the first time, and possibly the last. Using in-depth qualitative interviews, this research reveals that despite proximity to the ocean, Latinx/e students experience invisible social and cultural barriers that shape their sense of belonging at campus coastal spaces. Although micro scale, the findings point toward a bigger environmental injustice around well-being. Beaches are public, but understanding who feels comfortable there shows that the restorative benefits are not equally distributed.