The terms Hispanic and Latino are frequently used in the United States to describe individuals with roots in Latin America and the Caribbean. As we approach National Hispanic American Heritage Month, it’s crucial to delve into these terms, understand their significance, and explore why many individuals from these diverse communities hold complex and personal views on their preferred terminology. This exploration is essential for anyone seeking to understand the nuances of identity, especially when referring to a Mexican Person or others from similar backgrounds.
Hispanic vs. Latino: Unpacking the Definitions
The distinction between Hispanic and Latino is often summarized as “it’s complicated,” and for good reason. At their core, these terms delineate partially overlapping groups based on different criteria:
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Hispanic: This term traditionally refers to individuals who have ancestry in countries where Spanish is the primary language. This definition is rooted in language, specifically Spanish.
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Latino/a/x: This term, along with its variations, encompasses individuals originating from Latin America (including Mexico, Central and South America) and the Caribbean. This definition is geographically based, referencing Latin America.
Based on these definitions, someone from Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken, would be considered Latino but not Hispanic. Conversely, a person from Spain would be Hispanic but not Latino. A Mexican person, however, could identify with both terms, or neither, depending on their personal identity and heritage. For instance, a Mexican person of Mayan descent or with strong indigenous roots might not fully identify with a term that emphasizes Spanish colonial heritage. Terry Blas visually clarifies this distinction:
As Blas illustrates, Latino/a/x is about geography, pinpointing origins in Latin America, while Hispanic is about language, specifically the Spanish language connection. Further exploration of this topic is available in Blas’s comic essay.
Beyond these basic definitions, the terms Hispanic and Latino carry historical weight and varied associations shaped by individual experiences, family origins, and where someone grew up. It’s important to remember these definitions are primarily within the United States context. Latin American and Caribbean nations have their own intricate systems of terminology and identity.
Latino, Latina, Latinx: Navigating Gendered Language
Latino, Latina, and Latinx are gendered variations of the same root word, a reflection of Spanish, a gendered language. In Spanish, nouns are inherently either feminine or masculine. Feminine words typically end in “a,” while masculine words usually end in “o.” Spanish lacks truly gender-neutral nouns or pronouns equivalent to English “they” or “it,” requiring all nouns to take a gendered form. Traditionally, the masculine form is used for mixed-gender groups or collectives, a practice that has sparked debate among Spanish-speaking feminists. For example, “niños,” the masculine plural, refers to a group of boys, but also to a mixed group of boys and girls, potentially overshadowing the presence of girls.
This linguistic structure presents challenges for gender-fluid individuals or those who don’t strictly identify as male or female. Being compelled to use a masculine or feminine pronoun can feel incongruent with their identity.
“Latinx” emerged as a gender-neutral alternative, aiming to move beyond the “o” or “a” endings. However, Latinx has faced its own criticisms. The “x” ending is not natural in Spanish phonetics, making the word sound awkward to some Spanish speakers. Furthermore, some within the Latino community perceive Latinx as a term imposed by English-speaking academic circles, rather than organically developed within their communities.
Terry Blas further examines the complexities of these terms and proposes “Latine” as an alternative in another insightful comic essay.
Determining the Most Appropriate Term
The question of which term to use is, again, “it’s complicated!” In academic settings, Latino/a/x has gained prominence recently, although both Hispanic and Latino are still used. Even in academia, the language/geography distinction holds: Hispanic Studies often focuses on Spanish language and literature, while Latino/a Studies tends to examine the lived experiences of people from or with heritage from Latin America.
Individuals with Latin American or Caribbean origins may identify as Latino, Hispanic, or neither, preferring to identify by their country of origin, such as Colombian, Dominican, or Mexican-American. For a Mexican person, the most suitable term might depend on the specific situation, their personal preference, and the context of the conversation.
When considering which term to use, several factors come into play:
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Intended Audience: Does one term resonate more with the group being addressed? If language is the primary focus (e.g., describing a Spanish-speaking population), Hispanic might be more fitting. If geographic origin in Latin America or the Caribbean is central, Latino/a/x is likely more appropriate.
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Individual Preference: When referring to a specific person, what term do they prefer, if any? Always prioritize individual preference when known. For example, asking a mexican person how they identify is always respectful.
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Relevance: Is the term even necessary? If not, consider omitting it for clarity and directness.
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Specificity: Would a more specific term be more accurate? Instead of using a broad term, mentioning a country or region of origin can provide richer context and be more precise. For example, instead of “Latino,” saying “person of Mexican descent” offers more specific information.
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Established Precedent: Terms like Hispanic have been historically used by institutions like the U.S. Census and government agencies. In such contexts, using the established term can maintain consistency and prevent confusion.
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Gender Inclusivity: Consider Latinx (or Latine) when gender is a relevant aspect of the discussion, particularly when involving the LGBTQ+ community or gender-related issues.
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Gender Norms: Regardless of the term, strive for communication that avoids defaulting to a male perspective and is inclusive of diverse gender identities.
Language surrounding identity is constantly evolving. The preferred terms in the future may differ from current usage. Staying informed and respectful of individual preferences is key.
Perspectives Within the School of Medicine
To understand the diverse perspectives within a specific community, we asked individuals from the School of Medicine with Hispanic or Latin American backgrounds about their term preferences. While not statistically representative, their responses illustrate the spectrum of feelings and preferences, highlighting the absence of a “one-size-fits-all” solution.
Claudia Gonzalez Hunt, PhD Postdoctoral Associate
Family background: Panamanian, first in immediate family to immigrate to the United States
What term do you prefer? Hispanic or Latina, for me personally.
Why do you feel this way? Although usage of the term latinx does not upset me in any way, it strikes me as anglicizing a term adopted from a different language. I think it’s better to exclusively use gender-neutral English words (such as Hispanic, or Latin American).
Danelvis Paredes, MD
Neurology Resident Family background (country): All my family is from the Dominican Republic. We moved to Puerto Rico when I was 3 years old, and I have been living in the U.S. for two years.
What term(s) do you prefer? Latino/Latina
Why do you feel this way? I personally preferred Latina/Latino, which makes me feel more deeply about my real roots. Because Hispanic refers to language, or anyone who has ancestors from Spain, it would include people from Equatorial Guinea, which is in Africa. For this reason, I feel Latina/Latino is more representative of where I come from. Latinx makes no sense to me, and I don’t feel that it represents me. The term is trying to be more inclusive, but it loses the beauty of our culture which includes and distinguishes between females and males through our language.
Ángel Romero Ruiz, MMC, CNM
Program Coordinator, Duke Population Health Management Office Family Background: Iberian peninsula (Spain and surrounding regions) and Italy
What term(s) do you prefer? Hispanic. Otherwise, Latina/o/x, depending on gender. Using Latinx exclusively is not inclusive.
Why do you feel this way? I prefer Hispanic. Many people in academia adopted Latinx to include all Latin Americans. I have a problem with that. First, Latinx is very ugly to my ears, especially in Spanish. I also see it as a form of cultural imperialism, imposed by the English-speaking community, removing gender. For me the problem is when words from another language are used in English.
I don’t know who started using Latino and Latina in English. In the American music industry, the term used for decades is the gender-neutral Latin. There is Latin jazz, Latin music, the Latin Recording Academy (which includes Spain and Portugal, by the way). I have many coworkers and friends who support the LGBTQ community but really dislike being called Latinx and prefer to be called Latinas or Latinos or hispanos.
Mara Sanchez, MMedSc, PA-C Physician Assistant, Duke Center For Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery; Consulting faculty for the Duke PA program
Family Background: I’m a Cuban American, born in the US, to Cuban parents
What term(s) do you prefer? I prefer to be called Hispanic, although I do appreciate that being “Hispanic” falls under the Latinx/Latina umbrella.
Why do you feel this way? I grew up hearing the term “Hispanic”, and identified with it because of my heritage/culture, and ancestry as I then understood it referred to people of Spanish descent/ who speak Spanish, and are of Latin origin.
Then I learned about the term Latino/Latina which referred to people from Latin America/South America. I was excluded from that group, which became confusing. At that time in my early teens, It was difficult to grasp, but it was easy enough if it was about location. In South Florida, a melting pot rich with a variety of cultures, it wasn’t something we belabored much. In my opinion, I think most Hispanics/Latinx actually identify more often with the country of their ancestry/or where our parents are from (or obviously for those that immigrated to the US, to the country or island where they were born/grew up).
Matthew Lacayo Research Technician, Department of Neurosurgery Family Background: My mother and father were both born in Colombia. My mother is from the capital, Bogotá, and my father from a river town, Aracataca. Because I was born in the US, I consider myself second-generation (although the labeling is itself ambiguous).
What term(s) do you prefer? no preference
Why do you feel this way? If I ever do refer to myself as Latino—or any ambiguation of it: Latin@, Latinx—it is mostly (not exclusively) in line with Western tropes (i.e. “I love to dance—it’s the Latino in me,” cuing Shakira’s “Hip’s Don’t Lie”). If I denote myself as Hispanic, it’s for some inventory/survey given by school, state or by some passerby.
I will note that I have begun to use Latinx more deliberately to invoke the entire Latin-American population and all variations of it, especially since it has been popularly introduced in the academy. Along the same vein, I don’t recall having intentionally labeled myself as “Latin@”/”Latina/o”/”Latine” but do see each term as a very cool (con)fusion of Spanish dictum and American thought, reconstructing the gender binary present in one culture with that binary’s significance in another (this is also seen in one pronunciation of Latinx, “Latin-equis,” as a literal hybridization of both languages). I don’t belong to just one category in particular (hence, no preference), yet I strangely feel I live the reality of all of them.
Maria Moreno
Communications Specialist, Duke Office for Institutional Equity
Family Background: My family originates from Mexico, but it’s a challenge to pin-point a generational value in the U.S. Much of my dad’s family were known to travel back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico for decades. In the 1970s, my father met my mother while vacationing in Mexico. They married and they moved to Los Angeles, where my siblings and I were born and grew up.
What term you prefer? In order of preference: Equally Mexican American or Chicana, then Latina, and finally Hispanic.
Why do you feel this way? I am proud of my Mexican American/Chicano heritage, which is why I prefer that identifier. However, I also like Latina because Mexico is part of Latin America and I feel it’s important for Spanish-speakers who hail from Mexico and its neighboring regions to support each other. Finally, I like Hispanic because it acknowledges the Spanish roots, despite the connection with colonization. I believe that the advent of varied identifiers among Latinos in the United States results from feelings of resentment toward colonization and the desire to establish an identity, especially in a “melting pot” nation that seems to place a heavy burden on what it means to be American when everyone looks so different. It’s certainly a result of societal and racial struggles. I also think it results from the penchant for English to borrow words from other languages but anglicize them (i.e., butcher them into sounding more English as opposed to trying to keep original pronunciations). It’s a complicated and evolving topic.
Further Reading
For deeper exploration of this topic, consider researching resources from academic institutions, cultural organizations, and publications focused on Hispanic and Latino/a/x communities. Understanding the evolving language and perspectives is an ongoing process.
