No, it’s not a typo—we intentionally use the term 'Filipinx' over other terms like Filipino or Filipin@. We do so because it aligns with FIERCE's values of empowerment and community. Read on to understand what the 'x' means and why we use it. Gender InclusivityTo understand why we use the ‘x,’ we have to understand a concept called gender inclusivity. Inclusivity means being open to everyone, especially those who might traditionally be left out or looked down upon. Gender inclusivity, then, means being open and accepting of people of all genders. We say all genders because we acknowledge that there are more than two genders. We’re raised to believe that the only two genders are male and female, and that these are assigned at birth. This idea is called the gender binary. However, some people find that they don’t fit into these two strict categories, and they may choose to instead identify as gender non-binary, or genderqueer. Others who identify as genderfluid may change their gender over time. Some people find that they don't belong to any gender and may identify as agender. In summary, we acknowledge that gender is a non-binary spectrum: it isn’t limited to two genders, and it encompasses a wide range of identities that are just as valid and real as male and female. We also acknowledge that identity is self-assigned—it is determined by oneself, and it can change over time. Filipino, Filipinx, Filipin@With that said, why do we use the term ‘Filipinx’?
The term ‘Filipino’ is masculine because it ends with -o; its feminine counterpart is ‘Filipina,' which ends with -a. These gendered terms were brought about by Spanish colonization. Although unintended, the use of the term ‘Filipino’ can be harmful to genderqueer-identified people because it assumes that there are only two genders. Using the term ‘Filipino’ also uses a masculine term to encompass a diverse array of gender identities who may be excluded and overlooked. Therefore, some people in the US prefer the term Filipinx, replacing the final letter (which traditionally determines gender) with an ‘x.’ The ‘x’ is meant to include people of all genders—male, female, gender non-binary/genderqueer, genderfluid, agender, and all other identities that are traditionally excluded. Some people use another term, Filipin@, which combines the terms Filipino and Filipina. However, we believe that this term is not as inclusive because it only represents males and females—it reaffirms the gender binary. So, in our efforts to empower all young Filipinx Americans, FIERCE uses the gender-inclusive term ‘Filipinx.’ We also strive to replace other gendered terms with gender-inclusive ones—for example, using “y’all” instead of “you guys.” We believe that it’s important to make sure all members of our community feel equally included and represented, and we strive to build a safe and comfortable learning environment for a diverse range of students. That is, after all, the essence of FIERCE. It may seem trivial; after all, it’s just one letter. But oppression and exclusion are embedded in our everyday language, and by changing our everyday language—even something as simple as changing an ‘o’ to an ‘x’—is an active step in reversing years of marginalization. (Final note: Your identity is your identity. Whether you identify with the term Filipino, Filipina, Filipinx, or other another term, you have the power to choose what you call yourself. We simply use the term Filipinx to refer to the Filipinx American community at large to be inclusive of as many people at possible—but that doesn’t stop you from calling yourself Filipino or Filipina!)
29 Comments
kayumanggiangbalatko
4/29/2019 07:11:11 pm
“filipino” was never a gendered term in the philippines; it has always been used to refer to everyone of any gender we are all filipinos. i understand that being in the diaspora and having a different cultural context has brought up different interpretations and so using “filipinx” has also contributed to the safe space for genderqueer people so that’s cool and valid. i think it’s important to know as well that citizens in the philippine islands do not see it as gendered simply because it ends with an -o. using “filipina” or even “pinay” has always been optional and so “filipino” and “pinoy” is perceived as gender neutral in the philippine islands.
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KC
2/17/2021 01:00:45 pm
Them Fil-ams that were born and raised in the states are no longer filipinos. They're 'muricans who have a pseudo-filipino identity.
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immigrantfromphilippines
6/5/2019 05:45:26 pm
yes I agree with kayumanggiangbalatko. As a Filipino immigrant, there needs to be an understanding of the history of the word. Filipino is not a gendered term. Fil-Ams need to see their inherent colonialism by pushing Filipinx to the mainstream. It's great that it's non-gendered and accepting to our queer friends but by promoting this agenda, you are assuming that your way is what's right without regard on the cultural status of the word Filipino. Maybe it would be better to use Filipinx-American but leave people who want to use Filipino alone especially those from the native country.
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1stgenimmigrant
10/28/2019 05:38:24 pm
Agreed. Filipino has always been gender inclusive. It was never masculine in the first place. Which is why it confuses me how these Fil-Ams keep pushing it as if it's not gender exclusive.
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Mel
5/20/2020 06:58:54 pm
Wow, so essentially the same bs that was done to Latino. It stop messing up our language amd culture. It's not gonna happen.
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pambihira
6/21/2020 10:59:22 pm
We've been colonized more than enough. Stop trying to change our cultural identity.
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Isla
6/22/2020 08:48:30 am
I’m Filipino, born in the Philippines, raised all over the world. Only when I came to the US did I feel alienated by other Filipinos calling themselves Filipinx. Feels like you are hijacking the Filipino identity to suit your own ideals without even considering the history and pride the Filipino people have in their homeland. Tigilan nyo yan kagaguhan!
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TiredOfBeingColonized
6/23/2020 05:25:47 am
I'm not surprised that a person who grew up WHITE wants to have their WHITE standards pushed on others. But hey the default for us Filipinos had always been colonized.
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Manny
6/24/2020 05:41:14 am
How do you translate that to tagalog? Pilipineks?
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Michael
6/26/2020 09:46:51 am
this is stupid. Filipino is a gender neutral word. I stop trying to push your "fixes" to problems that doesn't even exist in others. We all call each other Filipino, regardless of gender.
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Cj
7/5/2020 09:17:23 am
Well I mean if you use 'X' in terms of chromosomes it still acknowledges XX for female XY for Male which concludes that it's still just two genders. Just a thought.
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Felix
7/19/2020 07:26:04 am
Wow, this is just the dumbest shit I ever read. Like are you aware about the Abakada alphabet? Since "x" doesn't exist in Tagalog. Also Pilipino has been and always been a gender neutral phase, it's like the word "guys" since it evolved from manly men to a group of different types of people. Another example, the word "gay" meaning happy and "queer" for odd, but also it evolved to be part of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Eri
7/25/2020 12:02:59 am
Just saying but using filipinx to refer to yourself as inclusive is pretty stupid. We don't even have a word for gendered pronouns.
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Maria Clara
7/29/2020 04:47:46 am
Maybe if you actually delved deeper into Philippine culture and history, you would know that "Filipino" is a gender-neutral term.
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FILIPINO PA DIN MGA ULOL
9/5/2020 03:29:31 pm
FILIPINO IS A GENDER NEUTRAL. FIL AM SHOULD STOP BEING SO SELF ENTITLED. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE LETTER "X" IN FILIPINO ALPHABET. For Christ sake. If Americans wants to be Karen, let them, but don't let white supremacy get into your attitude. PILIPINO PA DIN KAYO MGA ULOL!
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AmerikanoAmerikanaAmerikanx
9/5/2020 08:24:42 pm
we have a tagalog words for Amerikano (Male Americans) and Amerikana (Female Americans)
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PLease dont
9/6/2020 04:34:11 am
The word Filipino, in general, means a person who has Filipino blood or parents from the Philippines, it doesn't mean a MALE person who is from the Philippines. Be it man, woman, or whatever gender a Filipino identifies, they are called Filipinos. Male and female pronouns only started when the Spanish colonialization happened. And frankly speaking, using the term "Filipinx" or 'Pinxy" is an insult to hundreds of the Philippine languages, and can be seen as an act of colonialism.
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Therese G.
9/7/2020 12:05:33 am
The term Filipinx is a joke, and makes a mockery of the language. The letter 'x' doesn't even exist natively in the language, it's been adapted due to colonization, hence the presence of the term 'Ekis' for 'X'.
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Eileen
9/7/2020 09:03:54 am
There's this trending (for the wrong reasons) FB page that suggested that Tito/Tita be called "Titx" following this Filipinx thing. That will get you a slap in the face in the Philippines. For you Fil-Ams who don't know the language, "Titx" sounds like "Tite" which is penis. NO.
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Wat
9/7/2020 03:19:24 pm
The Philippines was named after King Philip II of Spain. If you really want it to be gender neutral, you’d have to take out the “Filip,” not the “no.”
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Natori
9/10/2020 03:28:27 am
If you're not a Filipino, you don't have a right to call use filipinx. And you know, filipinx sounds more like an offending term for us Filipinos
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sup
9/10/2020 10:34:11 am
Hello. Filipino here. Born and raised.
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AAG
9/25/2020 10:51:48 am
Since this is all about culture and language, go back to the original source, the Philippines. In 1987, the Philippine Constitution made Filipino the national language. In this usage, it is gender-neutral. I believe it therefore follows that its usage in any reference to national identity is proper. If your usage is for personal self-identification then Filipinx is a choice you’re entitled to make. However, to refer to all of us Filipinos collectively as Filipinx tramples on our choice since Filipino is already officially recognized as gender-neutral. I, for one, don’t like using a letter that isn’t even in our native language, so the association with Philippine culture is diluted and indicates ignorance or minimization of our culture.
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Paeng
11/24/2020 09:59:53 am
The brown americans clearly doesnt know what their talking about. Just wants to different. Di nyo nga alam na gender inclusive na ng filipino. This western mentally alienating our language should stop
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abrownamerican
11/25/2020 10:27:33 pm
I understand that it has always been gender neutral. But just because I am born and raised outside of the Philippines should not mean that I do not have the right to own my own preference of using Filipinx. A lot of your arguments make it seem that because I was not born in the PI means that I do not have a right to own the way I choose to represent myself? Are you saying I cannot claim what I find valid in my own beliefs? How can you say "brown americans" clearly do not know what they are talking about. They are just trying to figure out and accepting their place embracing their own cultural-gender identity.
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kayumangging pilipino
11/29/2020 06:41:24 pm
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Alibata
11/27/2020 01:21:41 am
The problem is that it's quite horrible and almost impossible to say in Tagalog or Filipino since it would end up sounding like "Felepieks" and that's why people are really negative about it and X doesn't exist in Abakada. I mean, people in the Philippines are already confused on the difference between Filipino and Pilipino, so adding this might add fuel to the fire.
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/
12/22/2020 03:25:15 pm
The word "Filipino" did not exist before the Spanish. Therefore, to claim that "Filipinx" makes an already colonial word "more colonial" is laughable. It already is.
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Filipino
2/21/2021 10:43:15 pm
Stop trying to make Fetch happen. Filipinx has got to be the dumbest thing I’ve heard today.
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