Intercategorical and Intracategorical Experiences of Discrimination and HIV Prevalence Among Transgender Women in San Francisco, CA: A Quantitative Intersectionality Analysis.

TitleIntercategorical and Intracategorical Experiences of Discrimination and HIV Prevalence Among Transgender Women in San Francisco, CA: A Quantitative Intersectionality Analysis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsWesson, P, Vittinghoff, E, Turner, C, Arayasirikul, S, McFarland, W, Wilson, E
JournalAm J Public Health
Volume111
Issue3
Pagination446-456
Date Published2021 Mar
ISSN1541-0048
KeywordsAdult, Black or African American, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Hispanic or Latino, HIV Infections, Homophobia, Humans, Middle Aged, Residence Characteristics, San Francisco, Social Perception, Socioeconomic Factors, Transgender Persons, White People, Young Adult
Abstract

To examine differences in HIV prevalence and experiences of discrimination within the trans women community in California's San Francisco Bay Area. Intersectional positions were constructed on the basis of race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Latina) and gender identity (female identifying, transgender identifying). We used baseline data from the Trans*National study (2016-2017) to construct regression models that estimated racial/ethnic differences in the attribution of discrimination experienced and, along with surrogate measures for intersectionality, estimated risk among those who were dually marginalized (racial/ethnic minority and transgender identifying). Margins plots were used to visually compare absolute risk across all intersectional positions. Black and Latina trans women were more likely to be HIV positive than non-Hispanic White trans women. In several of the study domains, we estimated a lower risk of reporting discrimination among dually marginalized trans women than among White female-identifying trans women. Quantitative intersectionality methods highlight the diversity of experiences within the trans women community and reveal potential measurement challenges. Despite facing multiple forms of systemic marginalization, racial/ethnic minority trans women report less discrimination than White trans women. Subjective reporting of discrimination likely undercounts risks among racial/ethnic minorities.

DOI10.2105/AJPH.2020.306055
Alternate JournalAm J Public Health
PubMed ID33476238
PubMed Central IDPMC7893335
Grant ListK01 AI145572 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 MD010678 / MD / NIMHD NIH HHS / United States