Silenced & Marginalized: The Role of Gendered Racial Microaggressions on Partner Communication and Condom-Use Intentions Among Black Emerging Adult Women

Using gendered racism theory, we explored the relations between partner communication, ethnic identity affirmation, and stress appraisal of silencing and marginalizing gendered racial microaggressions (e.g. expressions intended to ignore, challenge, or make Black women feel invisible) on Black emerging adult women's condom-use intentions. We hypothesized that Black emerging adult women with a lower ethnic identity affirmation who rarely discuss safe sex practices with past sexual partners would report lower intentions to use condoms in the future when stress levels from being silenced and marginalized are higher. Participants, 135 Black emerging adult women who have sex with men and live in the United States, completed the survey online. As expected, findings revealed a significant positive relationship between partner communication and condom-use intention. In addition, the interaction between ethnic identity affirmation and silencing and marginalizing gendered racial microaggressions moderated the relationship mentioned above. Findings and implications for sexual health interventions and future research are presented in the context of Black women's sexual relationships.