Questioning privileged mixedness

identity, belonging, and racialisation among young people of Latin American and spanish heritage in Catalonia, Spain

Resumo

This article offers a critical analysis of identity experiences and processes of Inclusion, exclusion, and racialisation among mixed-heritage youth of Latin American descent In Catalonia. Drawing on 119 qualitative Interviews, the study challenges narratives that portray linguistic and cultural proximity between Spain and Latin America as pathways to automatic social Inclusion. Findings show that Latin American mixedness functions as a form of “ambivalent privilege.” While some young people may “pass” as native when their phenotype aligns with dominant forms of whiteness, this form of recognition is fragile and easily disrupted when visible markers of origin – physical features, Latin American accents, or explicit references to family background – activate processes of stigmatisation and othering. The analysis reveals multiple forms of racialisation, ranging from microaggressions and everyday prejudice to stereotypes attached to parents’ countries of origin (hypersexualisation, poverty, criminality, or exoticism). The study also highlights the centrality of language and accent In the Catalan context, where linguistic hierarchies and glottophobic attitudes can reinforce symbolic boundaries of belonging, particularly for youth who speak Spanish with Latin American varieties. In response to these tensions, young people engage In various identity negotiation strategies: accent neutralisation, selective concealment of family origins, reclaiming racialised identities, or developing cosmopolitan forms of belonging. Far from linear Integration, their trajectories are marked by ambivalence, Intersectional Inequalities, and shifting positionalities. The article underscores the importance of recognising the specific characteristics of Latin American mixedness and how these impact our understanding of the contemporary dynamics of racialisation In Spain.

Submissão: 08 mar. 2026 ⊶ Aceite: 06 mai. 2026