As the landscape of public health evolves, so too does the language we use to describe diverse communities. Language plays a crucial role in shaping how individuals and groups are represented, understood, and engaged in research and policy. In recent years, there has been an increasing recognition of the need for inclusive terminology that reflects the complexity of identity, particularly within Latin American communities.
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Alana LeBrón, PhD, associate professor of health, society, & behavior at UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health and a community-based participatory researcher, shares her perspective on using ‘Latiné’ as a gender-neutral, culturally sensitive alternative to ‘Latino’ and ‘Latinx’ to foster inclusivity in public health research.
To understand how she incorporates ‘Latiné’ in her research, Dr. LeBrón delves into its historical context and the significance of being mindful of identity.
Recognizing that labels are always changing, I have leaned into the term ‘Latiné’ designed as a gender-neutral term and one that can easily be pronounced in both English and Spanish language.“
– Alana LeBrón, PhD
“As components of systems of oppression and resistance, racial terms are highly political and evolving. In recent years, we have experienced a revolution in racial terms such as Latiné, Latinx, and Latino, which are generally used to describe peoples with ties to Latin American countries or territories. A large part of this movement is rooted in the understanding that while a term such as Latino is designed to be inclusive of the wider population, it remains gendered and makes less visible community members whose gender identities defy dominant constructs related to gender binaries,” says LeBrón who also has an appointment with the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies at the UC Irvine School of Social Sciences.
“There has been great interest in the term Latinx to overcome some of these challenges. And yet, we have grappled with the shortcomings of the use of this term, including that the term (which emerged in English-dominant spaces) is awkward in Spanish language and originally conceptualized to make visible gender queer community members (vs. referring to the entire population in a gender-neutral way).”
“In the communities with whom I work, there is generally an embrace of the use of the term Latiné, with grace and understanding when community members use other terms to refer to our pan-ethnic community.”
“Recognizing that labels are always changing, I have leaned into the term ‘Latiné’ designed as a gender-neutral term and one that can easily be pronounced in both English and Spanish language. I encourage us to work in partnership with Latiné-identifying communities to understand the racial terms best align with individual and community identities and practices.”
Inclusive language in public health research is not merely a matter of semantics; it is a step toward dismantling systemic inequities and ensuring that research reflects and serves all members of a community.
