An Intersectional Approach to Victimization: Gender Nonconformity, Sexuality, Gender, and Race and Ethnicity

• In Event: Crime, Law and Deviance Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 11: Life Course Outcomes

Abstract

Sexual minorities and those engaging in gender nonconformity face increased risk of victimization. Although these characteristics may overlap, they remain distinct; some sexual minorities engage in gender expression consistent with their birth sex, while some heterosexual individuals engage in gender nonconforming expression. In addition, there are significant differences in victimization as well as in meanings associated with sexuality and gender expression by both gender and race and ethnicity. This highlights the importance of taking an intersectional approach considering multiple axes of difference and oppression to effectively assess risk. While some prior research has begun such an intersectional examination, there are several limitations. In particular, existing research focused only on identity and none of it examined gender expression. To address these limitations, we analyzed the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Drawing on five waves of data, we assessed the impact of same-sex sexuality (identity, attractions, or sexual partners) and gender nonconformity on intimate partner violent victimization, general victimization, and discrimination by stratifying analyses by both gender and race and ethnicity. We found evidence that the impact of same-sex sexuality and gender nonconformity varied by gender, race and ethnicity, and outcome. This has implications for how we approach treatment, prevention, and inequality more generally.

Authors

• Joanne M. Kaufman, University at Albany, SUNY

• Amanda Connella, University at Albany, SUNY