Exploring Intersectional Relationships Between Experiences of Racial and Gbt (Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) External and Internalized Discrimination
According to minority stress theory, discrimination experiences lead to decreased wellbeing in minority populations (Klonoff & Landrine, 1995). Discrimination events are thought to be perpetrated by members of the majority group on minority populations however discrimination can be internalized, a process of accepting and directing stigmatizing messages at one’s self even in the absence of external discrimination (Meyer & Dean, 1998).
Discrimination is typically understood within the context of one minority status. The principle of intersectionality however argues that individuals are simultaneously affected by multiple identities, complicating our understanding of the risks associated with discrimination, stress and therefore negative health outcomes (Purdie-Vaughns & Eibach, 2008). The methodological challenges to testing an intersectional experience of discrimination have been discussed by scholars in multiple disciplines. No research to our knowledge has tested the intersection of identity specific external discrimination and identity specific internalized discrimination. This study examined the relationship between identity specific external stigma and internal stigma for individuals inhabiting two marginalized identities, Latino and gay, bisexual, or transgender (GBT). The authors hypothesized that such a model would provide exploratory evidence of intersectional experiences among the study participants in relation to their experiences of discrimination.
Methods:
The study involved secondary data analysis of data collected through the Latino MSM Community Involvement: HIV Protective Effects study. The sample included self-identified Latino gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Two dimensions of GBT stigma and racial stigma were assessed: experienced and internalized. Experienced GBT stigma included four factors: childhood experiences of maltreatment, adult harassment and abuse, social rejection, family experiences. Internalized GBT stigma also included four factors: feeling of shame, blame, wanting to change one’s sexuality, endorsement of normative masculinity. Experienced racial stigma include four separate factors: work, public discrimination, harassment, rejection from romantic relationships, and internalized racial stigma was measured with three factors: blame, shame, social distance from other Latinos (Ramirez-Valles, Kuhns, Campbell & Diaz, 2010). To test the relationship between all eight domains of externalized stigma and seven domains of internalized stigma SEM was used. SEM allowed for use of latent variables and analysis of multiple interrelated dependent variables.
Results:
The overall model demonstrated good model fit: Χ2 = 1990.36(1252), RMSEA= .03, CFI= .95, TLI= .93. Multiple relationships existed between experiences of discrimination and internalized stigma within and across identities. Some that demonstrated risk: experiences of racial public discrimination was positively related to GBT internalized shame (B=.28, p>.05), racial external stigma around rejection in relationship was positively related to racial internalized shame (B=.38, p>.00), wanting to change one’s sexuality (B=.26, p>.05), and normative masculinity (B=.44, p>.01), GBT external discrimination from family was positively related to GBT shame (B=.29, p>.05), and GBT social rejection was positively related to racial social distance (B=.41, p>.05).
Conclusions & Implications:
Findings suggest that the relationship between experiences of GBT and Latino discrimination are intersectional. These findings support the efforts of scholars in the development of interventions targeting populations at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. Such interventions should address the interconnection between identities, experiences and risk.