Latinx for whom? Reflections upon the linguistic shaping of Latin American identities in the United States

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article critically examines the growing utilization of the term Latinx in the United States (US) as an all-inclusive, nonbinary ethnonym that challenges the injustices experienced by discriminated minorities, mostly LGBTQIA + people of Latin American descent in the United States. Despite its relevance, the term Latinx presents key challenges, beginning with its use as a catch-all category and substitute for other ethnonyms (i.e. Hispanics and Latinos) that speak to diverse racial/ethnic identities. Latinx’s two-fold framing effect has contributed to invisibilizing the experiences of cisgender people, along with transgender individuals who see themselves as binary, and of gender nonconforming populations. In supporting these claims, the author self-reflects on her Latina positionality to question the use of Latinx as a wide-ranging label. Finally, this essay offers concrete recommendations on how to properly use Latinx to include diverse Latin/a/o/x identities in the US and beyond.