{"id":323630,"date":"2026-07-09T09:59:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T13:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=323630"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:24:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T19:24:42","slug":"u-s-hispanics-are-divided-on-whether-their-identity-helps-or-hurts-them-in-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/race-and-ethnicity\/2026\/07\/09\/u-s-hispanics-are-divided-on-whether-their-identity-helps-or-hurts-them-in-america\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Hispanics Are Divided on Whether Their Identity Helps or Hurts Them in America"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some say being Latino is a source of advantage or connection but others say it is tied to barriers and discrimination<\/h2>\n\n\n
\"A<\/a>
A portrait of a Hispanic grandmother and her grandson (Ron Levine\/Getty Images)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis explores the ways U.S. Latinos express and view their national, ethnic and racial identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Center does research to inform the public, journalists and decision-makers. This analysis builds on a quarter century of research about Hispanic identity<\/a>. It is part of a larger body of work that explores the attitudes and experiences of U.S. Hispanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a>, our research on Hispanics in the U.S.<\/a> and other research on race and ethnicity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This analysis is based on Pew Research Center\u2019s latest National Survey of Latinos, conducted from Oct. 6 to 16, 2025,<\/strong> among a sample of 8,046 U.S. adults. Some 4,923 Hispanics were surveyed, with 1,125 respondents who are members of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel<\/a> (ATP) and 3,798 respondents who are members of SSRS\u2019s Opinion Panel<\/a>. The survey also included 3,114 non-Hispanic ATP members. Here are the questions<\/a> used for this analysis, detailed responses<\/a> and the methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survey was conducted in English and Spanish. Respondents were recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This kind of recruitment gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviews took place either online, or by telephone with a live interviewer. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, presidential vote (among voters) and other factors. Read more about the ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Key terms<\/summary>\n

The terms Hispanic<\/strong> and Latino<\/strong> are used interchangeably in this analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S.-born<\/strong> people are those born in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, or those born in foreign countries to U.S. citizen parents.

Immigrants<\/strong> are U.S. residents born in foreign countries to parents who aren\u2019t U.S. citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: In this report, people born in Puerto Rico are considered immigrants. Although individuals born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens by birth, they are born into a Spanish-dominant culture. On many points, their attitudes, views and beliefs are much closer to Hispanics born abroad than to Hispanics born in the 50 states or D.C., even those who identify as being of Puerto Rican origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second generation<\/strong> refers to U.S.-born people who have at least one immigrant parent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third or higher generation<\/strong> refers to U.S.-born people who have two U.S.-born parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout this report, Democrats<\/strong> are respondents who identify with the Democratic Party or who identify as independent but lean toward the Democratic Party. Republicans<\/strong> are those who identify with the Republican Party or who identify as independent but lean toward the Republican Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Validated voters<\/strong> are adult citizens who told us in a postelection survey that they voted in a given general election and have a record of voting in a commercial voter file. Trump voters<\/strong> are validated voters who self-reported that they voted for Republican Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Harris voters<\/strong> are validated voters who self-reported that they voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonvoters<\/strong> are those who did not vote in 2024 but were eligible to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Country of origin or place of origin<\/strong> refers to the country or place that respondents\u2019 families trace their heritage to. These terms are used interchangeably with similar expressions such as home country, family origins, family roots, ancestral origin and heritage.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

For most Hispanics living in the United States, their Hispanic identity is an important part of how they see themselves. But there is no single view of what that identity means for their lives: some people see it as a source of connection or advantage, while others associate it with obstacles to getting ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2025, 61% of Hispanic adults say being Hispanic is an extremely or very important part of how they think about themselves. At the same time, 33% say being Hispanic hurts their ability to get ahead a lot or a little, while 26% say it helps a lot or a little and 40% say it makes no difference.[1. Compared with other factors asked about in the survey, including education, place of birth and gender, Hispanic identity stands out. Along with racial identity, it is among the factors most often seen by Hispanics as hurting their chances of succeeding in America, even as other traits \u2013 like education and place of birth \u2013 are more widely viewed as helping. These questions were part of a battery we asked about respondents\u2019 ability to get ahead in the U.S. today. Here are the questions<\/a> used for this analysis along with detailed responses<\/a>.] <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hispanics\u2019 views about their identity differ sharply across two factors: political leaning and immigrant generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n