The focus of this article is the result of an unexpected finding in a life narrative qualitative study. The research was conducted in a predominately White, research-extensive Midwestern state university and it explored how gender, ethnicity, and college experiences affected five undergraduate Latina students' perceptions of their academic persistence. Among the study's findings, one theme not commonly found in previous research literature in this area was identified; i.e., that Latinx fathers instructed and supported their daughters to defy traditional Latinx and mainstream cultures' sexist gender norms by guiding them to become highly educated, financially independent and savvy, and live successful lives.