Beyond binary: exploring fluidity in using 'Hispanic' and 'Latinx' terms


Susan Goli, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Enlightenment meant to liberate humankind from slavery, fear, and inequality. However, its prominent figures strongly believed in racial demarcation with which the Bourgeoisie was seeking equality and freedom like the French and American revolutions. Thinkers and agents of these revolutions were White Middle-Class European men. Therefore, freedom and equality were limited to them. This trace is evident in today’s social interactions, especially in labeling people with race. As Critical Race Theory (CRT) argues race categories are socially constructed, hence, they are subject to change. For instance, ethnic groups in the US context, such as Hispanics, can be defined by authorities, government officials, and scientists. The term “Hispanic” was adopted to fulfill the requirement “to unite all people with a similarity in backgrounds and language and color into one great big unit, one political force” (Gomez, 1992). It could be assumed that these categories were created based on origin, while the so-called “Whites” and “Hispanics” came from a single continent (Dávila, 2012). However, scholars recommended using “Latino” over “Hispanic,” emphasizing geography and political considerations. On the other hand, the population referred to by “Hispanic” expressed no preference in using the term, although they slightly favor “Hispanic” over “Latino.” While working on the online representation of Hispanics/Latinxs’ social mobility and struggling to use these terms correctly, I found that “Hispanic” and “Latinx” are the two ends of a spectrum of an identity with which people associate. Using symbolic interactionism as the theoretical perspective and netnography as the methodological framework, I analyzed the content of three Hispanic/Latinx organizations on Facebook from 2016 to 2019 to examine the use of language and the context of using “Hispanic” and/or “Latinx” in the meso-level of analysis. I did not find adequate literature on a middle ground between the macro- and micro-level research on the usage of these terms. My research fills this gap by focusing on the meso-level analysis. I offer a nuanced understanding of how these terms are used and perceived within Hispanic/Latinx organizations on Facebook by employing symbolic interactionism and netnography. This approach allowed me for an exploration of the societal interactions, meanings, and symbols attached to these identity labels within specific communities. Further, my study contributes to the broader discourse on race and identity construction by highlighting the fluidity and complexity of racial categories, particularly within the Hispanic/Latinx community. It provides insights into the meso-level dynamics of identity formation and representation, bridging the gap between micro- and macro-level analyses and advancing our understanding of the complexities regarding racial and ethnic identities in contemporary society. Regarding the theme of the RAE1 session, I believe my work is related to this session as it makes us rethink the nature of racial and ethnic labels creating a history of discrimination, stereotypes, and hatred. Highlighting the fluidity of racial and ethnic identities, it encourages critical reflection on the socially constructed labels and indicates how communities navigate these constructions to take initiatives to represent their identity. Further, it emphasizes intersectional attributes of racial and ethnic categories by examining how various factors, such as politics, perceived social status, and education can impact the usage of the racial and ethnic labels.

Non-presenting author: Saeed Ebadi, University of Tehran

This paper will be presented at the following session: