Discrimination and Interpersonal Violence: Reported Experiences of Trans* Undergraduate Students

Document Type

Article

Department or Administrative Unit

Nutrition Exercise and Health Sciences

Publication Date

3-1-2018

Abstract

Under Title IX, institutions of higher education are tasked with ensuring students are protected from gender discrimination. Vulnerabilities of trans* individuals call for inclusion of this student population in its assurance of protection and safety. Previous research shows that trans* individuals, both on and off campuses, are vulnerable to a range of interpersonal violence, including physical and non-physical forms. This study seeks to examine the discrimination experiences and interpersonal violence victimization among trans* undergraduate students in a national sample. In the Fall of 2015, undergraduate students (N = 15,072) participated in the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment, of which 1.5% (n = 228) identified their gender as trans*. Logistic regression analyses revealed trans* students had significantly higher odds of reporting negative outcomes, compared to non-trans* women, even after adjusting for other demographic variables, such as year in school, racial identity, and sexual orientation. For example, trans* students had significantly increased odds of reporting academic-affecting discrimination and having been verbally threatened, compared to non-trans* women. In addition, trans* students had significantly higher odds of reporting victimization of emotional abuse in a relationship and non-consensual attempted penetration, compared to non-trans* women. Trans* students are vulnerable to a range of victimization experiences that have detrimental effects on health. Implications for campus policy and programming, as well as future research are discussed.

Comments

This article was originally published in Violence and Gender. The full-text article from the publisher can be found here.

Due to copyright restrictions, this article is not available for free download from ScholarWorks @ CWU.

Journal

Violence and Gender

Rights

Copyright © 2018, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

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