The intersectionality of racial and gender discrimination among teens exposed to dating violence

Abstract

Objective: 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). Design: 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. Setting: 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. Participants: Non-probability sample of 142 Black and Latino teens aged 13-19 years who reported experiences dating someone of a different sex. Main Measures: Experienced discrimination based on race and gender adapted from the Experiences of Discrimination (EOD) instrument, dating violence items from the Youth Dating Violence Survey. Results: 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). Conclusions: Strategies to prevent TDV in this population should not ignore the compounding negative effects of racial and gender discrimination.