Translating the theory of intersectionality into quantitative and mixed methods for empirical gender transformative research on health

Abstract

Intersectionality theory has been used primarily in legal research to provide a framework for understanding the experiences of populations situated within multiple systems of oppression, particularly in relation to anti-discrimination law and gender-based violence. Gender transformative approaches to health seek to move beyond individual-level change and instead centre on restructuring the power relationships that create and maintain gender inequalities. Intersectionality theory is well-suited for the study of gender transformation on health, but there is a lack of consensus on clearly defined intersectional methodology in the field of public health, particularly for quantitative studies. Because qualitative methodologies are well-developed and employed with regularity for intersectional health research, the objective of this paper is to describe innovative quantitative and mixed methods approaches underutilised in public health and provide researchers examples of how to design a study’s methodology to adequately address intersectional research questions. The proposed methods provide a toolkit for the investigation of complex interactions across multiple levels, which may offer insight into effective points of intervention to reduce disparities, strengthen larger social movements, and ultimately alter structural and policy contexts. Despite challenges posed by the theory, intersectional approaches may be the key to addressing persistent inequalities that limit gender transformation.

KEYWORDS:

• Intersectionality
• gender
• theory
• methods
• transformative research

Acknowledgements

We thank Whitney Akabike for her support in manuscript preparation. We also acknowledge the University of California Global Health Institute’s Center of Expertise in Women’s Health, Gender, and Empowerment for supporting the intellectual environment related to this work. We are grateful to the intersectional theorists and methodologists who made this research possible, especially Kimberlé Crenshaw for her constructive feedback on the first draft of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

Authors declares no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

No ethical approvals were required for this manuscript because it did not involve any procedures performed involving human subjects.

Additional information

Funding

Support for the first author was provided by a centre grant at the UCLA Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services (NIMH P30MH058107), a training grant at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior (NIMH T32MH109205), and a training grant at the University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI) from the NIH Fogarty International Center (FIC D43TW009343). Additional support was provided by NIH Grants P30AI028697 and UL1TR000124. Support for the second author was provided by the Bixby Program in Population and Reproductive Health Research Mentorship. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or other funders.