Consider how youth’s multiple identities shape their sexual health experiences.
Consider how youth’s multiple identities shape their sexual health experiences.
- Why intersectionality is an important consideration
Every individual has multiple identities or lived experiences, each of which can increase or decrease that person’s power over their circumstances. Systemic disadvantages or inequities in sexual and reproductive health are most deeply felt by youth who experience multiple forms of oppression and discrimination. Many sexual and reproductive health approaches focus on one aspect of identity (e.g., the individual’s race, age, parent status, gender, or sexuality) rather than on how multiple experiences, unique desires, and intersecting identities interdependently create and shape an individual’s experiences in this world.
For example, the sexual and health care experiences of a transgender, English-speaking Hispanic teen are different from those of a cisgender, Spanish-only-speaking Hispanic teen. They both may experience discrimination, but in unique ways. A transgender Hispanic teen may experience bias if providers make incorrect assumptions about their STI risk or pregnancy intention due to their presumed gender, whereas a cisgender, Spanish-only-speaking Hispanic teen may experience confusion, frustration, and poor care because their provider does not speak the same language as them or because the clinic does not provide sufficiently translated materials and clinic signage.
Focusing on race—or another facet of identity—alone might overlook other key dimensions of someone’s experience that nevertheless shape their well-being and inadvertently suggest that all individuals with a common identifying factor are similar (i.e., “all Hispanic teens share the same experiences”). However, intersectionality creates nuance and sheds light on the barriers a person may face in accessing sexual and reproductive health care, their lived experiences that shape their sexual and reproductive health, and their multiple strengths that can promote their well-being.
Use accurate language to hold racist systems and policies accountable.
- Why language matters in advancing equity
Communicating and linking inequities to systems not only inspires change at the systems level but also paints a more accurate picture of the many factors that continue to drive disparities.
The ways in which people describe and discuss populations who have been excluded from safe and accessible sexual health services have implications for programs and policies. This is especially true for sexual and reproductive health programming. People who present data on adolescent sexual and reproductive health often note population health disparities (e.g., “teen birth rates of Black and Hispanic people are twice the rate of White people”) or imply that White people have achieved a standard to which Black and Hispanic people should aspire. This language promotes harmful stereotypical narratives about Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic populations (e.g., that they are irresponsible or promiscuous); undermines non-White populations’ own cultural norms and perspectives around sexual and reproductive health; ignores the variation in experiences of populations, including White populations (e.g., based off of geography, gender, and socioeconomic status); and fails to guide the development of policies and practices that are systems-focused and culturally responsive.
A more appropriate way to describe the experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous youth is to link experiences to systemic inequities, such as: “Black and Brown teens still face discrimination and bias from health care providers” or “There are limited employment opportunities for youth under age 18 that provide flexible hours, benefits, and livable wages,” or “Few public schools have strong systems that allow for virtual or remote learning that would accommodate young parents.”
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Emma Pliskin for her thought leadership, writing contributions, and expertise on reproductive autonomy. The authors would also like to thank Mavis Sanders, Kristen Harper, Lizy Wildsmith, and Jenn Rogers for their invaluable guidance regarding the overall framing of this product and for reviewing drafts and providing feedback throughout its development; Brent Franklin and Jody Franklin for editorial review and feedback on structure; and Zabryna Balén for an equity review and fact checking.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
- SDG 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
- SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
- SDG 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, the article mentions or implies indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These include:
- Access to sexual and reproductive health-care services
- Availability of family planning information and education
- Integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs
- Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights
- Elimination of discriminatory laws, policies, and practices
- Promotion of appropriate legislation, policies, and action
- Responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs. | – Access to sexual and reproductive health-care services – Availability of family planning information and education – Integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences. | – Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard. | – Elimination of discriminatory laws, policies, and practices – Promotion of appropriate legislation, policies, and action |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels. | – Responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making |
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Source: childtrends.org
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