STUDENT COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION
Welcome to the Latinx Student Community!
Career Services is committed to supporting Latinx students and alumni in navigating the intersection of their cultural identity and career trajectory, as well as entering the workplace as their most authentic self. The goal of this guide is to provide professional development resources, including mentoring and networking opportunities, professional associations, advocacy programs, leadership opportunities, internships, and inclusive employers. We have compiled a list of resources that will assist you with finding support as well as resources for your job and internship search. While the list is not exhaustive, it will help you get started. If you need further assistance, and would like to meet with someone, please feel free to schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor.
The terms Latino and Hispanic are typically used interchangeably, though there is a technical difference. Hispanic describes people from Spain or Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. However, that would exclude Brazil, where the official language is Portuguese. Latino (or the feminine version, Latina) refers to people from Latin America, but that would exclude people from Spain. The U.S. Census Bureau most often uses the term “Hispanic,” according to the Pew Research Center.
The term Latinx emerged about a decade ago as part of a global movement to introduce gender-neutral words, according to Pew. It also is now considered an all-encompassing word that includes both “Hispanic” and “Latino.”
However, only 4 percent of Hispanic/Latino individuals prefer the term Latinx over the others. Pew found that 61 percent say they prefer Hispanic, while 29 percent prefer Latino.
Only 25 percent of Hispanic people in the U.S. have heard of the term Latinx and a mere 3 percent use it, according to a Pew bilingual survey taken in late 2019. A study conducted last year by polling firm Bendixen & Amandi International found that only 2 percent of Hispanic/Latino individuals surveyed said they identified themselves as Latinx. In fact, 40 percent said they were bothered by the term.
So, which to use?
Many community leaders say either Latino or Hispanic is fine. The way you chose to identify is your decision.
Source: SHRM, “Closing the Gap”
