Poster #105 - Attitudes toward women, intimate partner violence, and coercive sex among adolescent gang members

• In Event: 1-169 - Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Section - Health, Growth, Injury

Integrative Statement

Adolescent gang members are at increased risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) and coercive sex victimization (Gover, Jenning, & Tewksbury, 2009). Male gang members are more likely to perpetrate IPV and coercive sex than non-gang members (Reed et al., 2011). Peer groups, including gangs, contribute to group norms and individual beliefs that influence adolescents’ behavior (Brown, Dolcini, & Leventhal, 1997; King, Voisin, & DiClemente, 2013). Gang members’ beliefs about gender may explain variation in their sexual health outcomes. In the present research, we examined how individual gang members’ beliefs about women and gangs’ average beliefs about women were associated with IPV and coercive sex.

Adolescent gang members (N = 281; 46% female; 73% Black/African American, 25% Hispanic/Latino, 4% White, age = 14-19) from 32 gangs completed surveys. Participants reported on six outcomes measuring victimization and perpetration of IPV and coercive sex (i.e. forced sex and gang rape). Participants completed three measures assessing equitable beliefs about women as romantic partners, respect for female gang members, and support for female gang members’ sexual agency (see Table 1 for descriptive statistics).

Multilevel models assessed whether beliefs about women were associated with IPV and coercive sex (see Table 2). We included effects for gender beliefs at the individual level and gang level (average score across members of each gang). We also included gender*belief interactions at the individual and gang level.

Individuals with more equitable beliefs about women as romantic partners experienced and perpetrated less IPV. Gangs characterized by more equitable beliefs about women as romantic partners had less IPV victimization and had lower rates of forced sex perpetration. The association of gender beliefs with IPV victimization was weaker for gangs with a higher proportion of female members.

Individuals who believed that their gang had more respect for women in gang roles experienced more IPV victimization, IPV perpetration, forced sex victimization, and gang rape victimization. The associations of respect for women in gang roles with IPV victimization and forced sex victimization were weaker for female than male participants. Gangs characterized by more respect for women in gang roles had higher rates of IPV victimization and perpetration. These associations were weaker in gangs with a higher proportion of female members.

No outcomes were significantly associated with beliefs about female gang members’ sexual agency.

Greater respect for female gang members was associated with higher risks of IPV, forced sex victimization, and gang rape victimization. In order to achieve the respect afforded to male gang members, female gang members may have to prove themselves by being violent (Miller & Brunson, 2000; Campbell, 1990). This study suggests that female gang members may experience a heightened need to prove themselves through violence in more male-dominated gangs. In contrast, more equitable beliefs about women as romantic partners were generally protective against IPV and coercive sex. Interventions to improve adolescent gang members’ sexual health may be most effective if they aim to improve gender equity in romantic relationships, rather than focusing on respect for female gang members or female gang members’ sexual agency.

Authors

• Rose Wesche, Medical College of Wisconsin
  Presenting Author

• Julia Dickson-Gomez, Medical College of Wisconsin
  Non-Presenting Author