Mexicanos, Mexican-Americans, Chicanos, Hispanics, Latinos, Latinx: Role and Terminology

Role and Terminology

  • Role: Position/purpose in a situation, organization, society, or relationship.

  • Terms for Mexicanos/Mexican-Americans/Chicanos/Hispanics/Latinos/Latinx:

    • Used demographically/descriptively or subjectively.

    • Have different definitions, identifiable histories, and meanings.

Usages of Terms

  • Demographic/Descriptive Usage: Refers to a population with distinctive characteristics; used by people inside or outside the group.

  • Subjective Usage: Term used by a group member to express self-identity (ethnic identity).

Specific Term Definitions and Meanings

  • Mexicanos (Barrera): "Persons from Mexico in the United States temporarily or in an irregular status."

  • Chicana/os (Barrera): "Persons of Mexican-origin residing permanently in the United States;" interchangeable with "Mexican-American."

    • Subjectively (Chicano Movement): Accepted new identity, non-white image, saw selves as oppressed minority, proud of Mexican-origin/cultural heritage.

    • Also indicated an activist working for social change, opposed to coercive assimilation, defiant, and committed to cultural/community preservation.

    • Initially descriptive (lower class), became pejorative, then associated with 'radical,' 'militant,' 'activist' through the Chicano movement.

  • Hispanics (U.S. Census Bureau): "Persons from Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, south or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race."

    • Found objectionable by Chicano generation due to: origins outside community, obscuring indigenous/African heritage, violating self-determination principle.

  • Latinx: Most recent term, developed by Millennials for inclusivity, beyond gendered language.

    • Controversial, particularly among Chicano Generation, due to lived experience of being told how to identify.

Current Usage for Self-Identity

  • "Hispanics," "Latinos," and "Latinx" are "umbrella terms" or "pan-ethnic labels."

  • Pew Center study finds these terms are generally not used by the majority for self-identity.

  • Majority identify by family's country of origin.

  • "Latinx" is not yet widely used: 23\% heard of it, but only 3\% use it for self-identification.