Is The Term 'Latinx' Inclusive Or Imposed?

A recent Pew Research Center report found that almost half of U.S. Latino adults say they’ve heard of the term “Latinx,” yet very few — 4% — have used it to identify themselves. And since what we call ourselves has been a topic of heated debate for the past few years, I thought it’d be worth digging into the research to get a temp check. What I found was revealing — yet very much in line with my own experiences.

Though “Latinx” was intended as an inclusive, gender-neutral alternative to “Latino” and “Hispanic,” many Latinos, myself included, feel that the term is often imposed by people outside the community, making it seem like just another way to lump us all together. And parts of Pew’s research reflect this sentiment.

The widespread resistance to “Latinx” indicates a clear disconnect between awareness and adoption. Age is a factor, of course: Latinos ages 18-29 are more familiar with the term, with 60% having heard of it, compared with only 34% of those age 65 and older. Similarly, U.S.-born Latinos are twice as likely to be familiar with “Latinx” as Latino immigrants, at 62% versus 31%.

Language and formal education also play significant roles in awareness; the data shows that more predominantly English-speaking Latinos and Latinos with at least a bachelor’s degree are aware of the term. This reinforces the notion that the word is steeped in elitism.

The term’s usage remains low despite an increasing awareness. When asked whether “Latinx” should be used to describe the U.S. Hispanic or Latino population overall, 75% of survey respondents familiar with the term said that it should not. This opposition was widespread across various subgroups. Those who support the word however, tend to be younger adults and Democrats —