214 - Exploration of How Hispanic Adolescents and Parents Culturally and Linguistically Conceptualize Gender Identity

Publication Number: 214.5013

Kyle Simqu, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Olivia Migliori, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; César Escobar-Viera, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Robert Coulter, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Myrian Perez Paulino, UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Nadia C. Pineda-Villegas, University of Pittsburgh, Jamaica plains, MA, United States; Maya I. Ragavan, University of Pittsburgh, Wexford, PA, United States

Background: Hispanic gender-diverse youth face compounding structural racism and discrimination due to intersecting minoritized identities. Accurate measurement of gender identity is essential for amplifying their voices in research, but existing measures may not be culturally or linguistically affirming. Additionally, while parents can provide vital support, there is limited research on how Hispanic parents understand gender identity. To address health disparities, developing inclusive gender identity measures is crucial.

Objective: We conducted a qualitive study with Hispanic parents and youth about their perceptions around gender identity and asked for feedback on measures not designed for Hispanic communities.

Design/Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 parents and 18 adolescents, including 6 gender-diverse individuals, recruited from local clinics, community organizations, and social media ads nationwide. Interviews lasted 45 minutes, were recorded in-person or virtually, and conducted in English or Spanish. Deductive and inductive coding were used to analyze the transcripts for emerging themes using thematic analysis.

Results: Demographics are summarized in attached images. Participants defined gender and gender identity similarly in English, but Spanish speakers often linked "género" to biological sex and "identidad de género" to self-description. Parents often confused gender with sexual orientation, though adolescents did so less. Heritage influenced Spanish terms for feminine and masculine identities, often tied to age. Both groups understood "transgender," but "nonbinary" was mainly recognized by adolescents, and "genderqueer" was unfamiliar to both. Words not generally understood lacked a proper Spanish translation. Gender-neutral terms like Latine/x were seen as imposed and dismissive of Spanish's gendered nature. Gender-diverse teens disliked separate categories for transgender identities and preferred a two-step measure for respect. Several participants noted the sensitivity of collecting gender identity data and questioned the context in which gender measures would be asked.

Conclusion(s): Culturally and linguistically appropriate measures should use terms with a common Spanish translation, avoid Latine/x, and follow a two-step approach asking about género and then identidad de género tailored to specific Spanish-speaking countries. This foundation aims to bridge the gap between Hispanic gender-diverse youth, the healthcare field, and the entire Hispanic community to facilitate acceptance and decrease discrimination preventing future adverse health outcomes in this population.

Demographics Graphic 1: Age, gender, immigrant generation, and language chosen in which to complete the qualitative interview for the 18 adolescent participants
Out of the 18 total adolescents that participated, 6 identified as cisgender girls, 6 as cisgender boys, 2 as transgender boys, 1 as a transgender girl, 2 as genderqueer, and 1 declined to respond about their gender identity. Taking into account sexual orientation, 11 of the adolescents falling under the LGBTQ+/questioning umbrella. Ages were a wide range from 13-19, with two adolescents being 13 years old, one adolescent being 14, three adolescents being 15, three adolescents being 16, two adolescents being 17, four adolescents being 18, and three adolescents being 19. For the interview, 16 chose to complete it in English while only 2 chose to complete it in Spanish. When asked about their immigrant generation, 6 adolescents said they were born outside the United States, 9 had their parent(s) born outside the United States, and 3 had their grandparent(s) born outside the United States.

Demographics Graphic 2: Parents
Out of the 16 total parents that participated, 13 identified as women, 2 as men, and 1 declined to disclose their gender identity. When responding about their age, only one parent fell in the age range of 26-35, four parents for 36-45, eight parents for 46-55, and three parents declined to disclose. For the interview, only 3 chose to complete it in English while 13 completed it in Spanish. When asked about their immigrant generation, 13 parents said they were born abroad, 1 had their parent(s) born abroad, and 2 declined to respond. For their heritage, 6 traced their family roots to Mexico, 3 to Colombia, 1 to Puerto Rico, 1 to Venezuela, 1 to El Salvador, 1 to Chile, 1 to the United States, and 2 declined to disclose.

Table 1: Corresponding Quotes of Key Results
This table provides a representative example of the emerging themes analyzed from the interviews highlighted in the results section.