Recognizing and Dismantling Raciolinguistic Hierarchies in Latinx Health
Pilar Ortega1, Glenn Martínez2, Marco A Alemán3
1Clinical assistant professor in the Departments of Medical Education and Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago.
Abstract:
Latinx individuals represent a linguistically and racially diverse, growing US patient population. Raciolinguistics considers intersections of language and race, prioritizes lived experiences of non-English speakers, and can help clinicians more deftly conceptualize heterogeneity and complexity in Latinx health experiences. This article discusses how raciolinguistic hierarchies (ie, practices of attaching social value to some languages but not others) can undermine the quality of Latinx patients' health experiences. This article also offers language-appropriate clinical and educational strategies for promoting health equity.
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