Latino vs Latinx: Let’s Break it Down

In May of this year, former Biden advisor Moe Vela spoke on what he perceives as a lack of unity in the Latin community. The fractures in the community come from varied sources, and it would appear that language is one of them.

The Latino vs Latinx debate kicked into gear around the time of the democratic primaries in 2019. Elizabeth Warren used the term in her remarks, and for many, this was the first time they’d heard of it. And the conversation surrounding it has continued to simmer since.

So to better understand its purpose and use, let’s take a look at its purpose and the pushback against it.

The Origin of the Word Latinx

The crux of the conversation centers on the fact that Spanish is a gendered language. Because not everyone adheres to the gender binary, this creates issues for individuals who do not want to be identified in binary terms.

Enter the word Latinx. Conceived in the early aughts and added the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2018, it’s a gender-neutral term for anyone of Latin American descent. Whether you’re male, female, non-binary, or don’t want to be referred to by gender at all, it’s a suitable term for the situation.

Other proponents favor it because they view the structures of Romance languages, like Spanish, as upholding patriarchal structures. For instance, while a group of women would be called Latinas, a mixed group are always Latinos, regardless of the gender breakdown of that group.

Some perceive this facet of the language as a reflection of harmful gender politics and the implementation of gender-neutral language as a means of combating it.

The Latino vs Latinx Divide

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the use of the word Latinx has received pushback, despite its innocuous intentions.

The Academia Española, usually credited as the “official” source on the Spanish language, rejected in 2018. Proponents of this decision say that it’s important to preserve the history of a language spoken by half a billion people worldwide.

Others view it as a term imposed on them, rather than a development sourced from the community itself. They might point out that only about 3% of the community identify as Latinx. And the fact that the term was adopted by an English dictionary the same year it was rejected by Academia Española could be said to be evidence of the term’s prominence being propelled by outside pressure.

Latinx is still a young word, and its ultimate fate remains to be seen. Language is rarely as cut-and-dry as we tend to think of it, as it continually develops to reflect the realities of those who use it.

The Ongoing Evolution of Language

Living languages change to adapt to the needs of their speakers. So as social attitudes evolve to become more inclusive, it follows that language will likewise evolve to reflect those new attitudes.

One positive step may be to stop framing it as a discussion of Latino vs Latinx. The former isn’t going away, and anyone can continue to identify that way if they so choose. All proponents of the latter are requesting is the dignity of being referred to in a manner that they’re comfortable with.

We’re starting to see more active Latinx representation in media as we speak. For a prime example, look no further than the recent video for Las Cafeteras “La Sirena”, appropriately released just in time for Pride 2021.