The Intersectionality of Racial and Gender Discrimination among Teens Exposed to Dating Violence.

Abstract

Driven by intersectionality, a central tenet of Critical Race Theory, this study examines the combined associations of racial and gender discrimination, which are interlocking, macro-level social forces, and teen dating violence (TDV). Self-report surveys were administered via Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview (ACASI) equipment. Logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between racial and gender discrimination and TDV. Study participants were recruited during August 2003 to June 2004 from high school health classes and an after-school program located in South Bronx neighborhoods of New York City. Non-probability sample of 142 Black and Latino teens aged 13-19 years who reported experiences dating someone of a different sex. Experienced discrimination based on race and gender adapted from the Experiences of Discrimination (EOD) instrument, dating violence items from the Youth Dating Violence Survey. Of the participants, 40.1% reported experiencing both racial and gender discrimination, and nearly all (93%) experienced dating violence. Participants reporting both racial and gender discrimination were 2.5 times more likely to report experiencing the highest frequency of dating violence, adjusted for age and sex (95% CI: 1.0-6.7). A dose-response of EOD observed in unadjusted models (P for trend =.024) was no longer statistically significant after adjustment for age and sex (P for trend =.073). Strategies to prevent TDV in this population should not ignore the compounding negative effects of racial and gender discrimination.