Janet M. Turan, PhD, MPH, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Stigmatized identities, while often analyzed in isolation, do not exist in a vacuum. “Intersectional stigma” is a concept that has emerged to characterize the convergence of multiple stigmatized identities within a person or group, and to address their joint effects on health and wellbeing. Evidence from the existing scientific literature suggest that people in diverse settings experience intersecting forms of stigma that influence their mental and physical health and corresponding health behaviors. As different stigmas are often correlated and interrelated, the health impact of intersectional stigma is complex, generating a broad range of vulnerabilities and risks. While enquiry into the intersections of race, class, and gender serves as the historical and theoretical basis for intersectional stigma, there is little consensus on how best to characterize and analyze intersectional stigma, or on how to design interventions to address this complex phenomenon. In this talk I will highlight existing intersectional stigma literature; describe gaps in our methods for studying and addressing intersectional stigma; provide examples illustrating promising analytical approaches; describe findings of our research group at UAB in elucidating experiences and effects of intersectional stigma (HIV, race, poverty, gender, and substance use) for people living with HIV in Alabama and beyond, and present priorities for future HIV interventions and research.

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