Gender Attitudes, Sexual Risk, Intimate Partner Violence, and Coercive Sex Among Adolescent Gang Members

Abstract

PurposeAdolescent gang members are at greater risk of poor sexual health outcomes than nongang members. Gang members' beliefs about gender may explain variation in their sexual health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine how gangs' and gang members' beliefs about gender are associated with sexual health outcomes, including sexual risk-taking, intimate partner violence, and coercive sex. MethodsGang members (N = 281; 46% female; 73% black/African American, 25% Hispanic/Latino, 4% white, age = 14–19 years) from 32 gangs completed surveys. Multilevel models assessed how gang norms and individuals' beliefs about women/girls as romantic partners, gang members, and sexual partners were associated with sexual risk-taking, intimate partner violence, and coercive sex (forced sex and gang rape). ResultsGangs and individual gang members who held more equitable beliefs about girls' role as gang members were at increased risk of experiencing several negative outcomes, including intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration, forced sex victimization, and gang rape victimization. These associations were stronger for gangs with a higher ratio of male members to female members. In contrast, equitable beliefs about women/girls as romantic and sexual partners were protective against intimate partner violence and coercive sex victimization and perpetration. ConclusionInterventions that address gender beliefs among gang members may improve intimate partner violence and coercive sex. These programs may be most effective if they aim to improve equity in sexual and romantic relationships, rather than focusing on respect for female gang members.