Study Finds Hispanics Don’t Want To Be Called Hispanic

April 4, 2012 11:51 AM



WASHINGTON (CBSDC) — A majority of Hispanics do not like being called Hispanic.According to a new poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, 51 percent of Hispanics do not like to be categorized as “Hispanics” or “Latinos,” saying they like to be identified from their family’s country of origin.

Only 21 percent of those polled identified themselves as “Americans.”

Hispanics and Latinos are split as to whether to identify themselves as a “typical American.”

Forty-seven percent of Hispanics and Latinos identify themselves with the term, while another 47 percent of those polled find they don’t seem to relate to a “typical American.”

As it comes to speaking English, nearly 90 percent of those polled believe you need to learn the language to succeed in America, but they also want to hold onto their Spanish-speaking roots.

Ninety-five percent of Hispanics believe it is important to speak Spanish in the U.S.

Pew also weighed in on the political front and important social issues. Fifty-eight percent of Hispanics believe gay marriage should be accepted. The poll finds those surveyed take a more conservative stance on abortion as 51 percent say it should be illegal. Only 30 percent of those surveyed identify themselves as liberal.

The term “Hispanic” was officially adopted by Congress in 1976 as a law to collect the information of U.S. residents with Spanish-speaking country origins.

The Office of Management and Budget added the term “Latino” in 1997.The Pew Research Center surveyed 1,220 Latino adults across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Study Finds Hispanics Don’t Want To Be Called Hispanic « CBS DC