Hispanic Heritage means many things in the United States, because the term Hispanic comprises many different groups and histories. Hispanic names an ethnic category that includes people of Spanish and Spanish colonial ancestry. The term came into usage in the United States in the 1970s, and it remains the pan-ethnic term most preferred by Americans with Spanish or Latin American ancestry. (Latino/a is the second most-commonly preferred pan-ethnic term.)
There are many reasons to question the use of the term and category Hispanic. It excludes Latin Americans who cannot trace ancestry to Spain, and it includes Spanish Americans, who may have little in common with Latin Americans who trace their ancestry through indigenous peoples, Africans, and/or white Europeans and who may experience the racial landscape of the United States differently. Perhaps most importantly, Hispanic can also hide important differences between Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, Guatemalan Americans, Salvadoran Americans, Dominican Americans, and others with distinct histories, cultures, and experiences in the United States. Hispanic Americans are not all the same, especially when it comes to their health. Factors such as race, country of ancestry, education level, income, neighborhood, immigration status, language spoken, and length of time in the United States all affect health outcomes.
However, when Hispanic came into usage, it served an important purpose. Laura Gomez, the author of Inventing Latinos, writes, “to count, we must be counted.” Counting Hispanic Americans as a group has helped reveal disparities in areas like income, education, healthcare, and housing. Key health trends include (from a short article from the Pew Research “5 Facts about Hispanic Americans and Health Care”):
- Hispanic adults are less likely to have a recent visit to a health care provider or to have a primary care provider.
- They are less likely to have health insurance compared to other groups.
- Many Hispanic Americans say worse health outcomes are due to job-related and structural factors.
- About one- third of Hispanic Americans – including 58 percent of Hispanic immigrants –prefer Spanish-speaking healthcare providers.
- Black Hispanic adults are more likely to report negative health care experiences compared to other Hispanic adults.
A 2023 study in Illinois found that many Hispanic residents, especially those in rural areas, struggle to access healthcare. Many report not having a regular healthcare provider, and financial barriers often prevent them from seeing a doctor when needed.
For information on the history of Hispanic/Latino terms, read Laura Gomez’s, Inventing Latinos (New York: The New Press, 2020) or check out the YWCA video explaining the differences between Hispanic and Latino/a/x.