Chicanx & Latinx Studies is a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary field. Research from the field encompasses a wide range of subject areas. Below are just a few examples of starting points that maintain a Latinx Studies focus. Depending on the subject area of your research, it is a good idea to check out resources within that area as well.
Consider the keywords you are using when searching. This list is originally created by Dr. Rachel Stein, Research & Instruction Librarian at Tulane University. Click here to visit her research guide.
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Latino, Latina, Latin@ |
Commonly used adjectives in books, book chapters, articles, and mass media that allow gender binaries of masculine (o), feminine (a), and masculine/feminine (@). Latino as an adjective reflects the acceptance of the -o ending in Spanish to describe a group of people that includes men, or as a default when gender is not specified. Latin@ is used to encompass masculine and feminine. |
| Latinx, Latine | Latinx and Latine both reject the gender binaries of masculine/feminine to embrace gender neutrality. Latine is a more recent development that reflects a preference to use the "e" rather than "x" as a gender-neutral ending because it is easier to pronounce in speech. Both tend to be used in progressive and activist-leaning publications, whether academic or popular/mass media. |
| Hispanic | Term used by the U.S. Government to collect census data, thus a common keyword in demography, politics and media. It is also a term that many use to self-identify, along with the Spanish hispano/s. |
| Hispanic-Americans | Key term to use when looking for books, since this continues to be the standard Library of Congress Subject Heading used to catalog books about Latines in the United States. |
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Chicano, Chicana, Chicanx, Chicane |
Refers to Mexican-Americans, particularly in relation to activist movements of the 20th century. |
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Mexican-American(s) Cuban-American(s) Venezuelan-American(s) etc. |
Hyphenated nationalities are commonly used across publications and in Library of Congress Subject Headings. |
| Puerto Rican(s) | Commonly used across publications, including Library of Congress Subject Headings. |
| Boricua | Refers to Puerto Ricans. It is derived from the Taíno word Boriken and is used to affirm Puerto Ricans' devotion to the island's Taíno heritage. Search as a keyword rather than a subject heading. |
| Nuyorican | Used to identify New Yorkers of Puerto Rican descent. The term derives from a combination of "New York" and "Puerto Rican". Search as a keyword rather than a subject heading. |
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Cubans --- United States Mexicans --- United States Venezuelans --- United States Colombians --- United States etc. |
Try subject searches for nationality AND United States when looking for academic resources. |
| Afro-Latino, Afro-Latina, Afro-Latinx, Afro-Latine | Terms used to describe people of African and Latin American descent. Not a Library of Congress Subject Heading. |
| African-American(s) | Library of Congress Subject Heading that may be used in combination with others for books about Afro-Latines. |
| Black(s) | Library of Congress Subject Heading that may be used in combination with other for books about Afro-Latines. |
