Neighborhoods can be sexist too: Hostile sexism and risk of intimate partner violence across city neighborhoods

Abstract

Hostile sexism reflects prejudices and hostile attitudes toward women that may justify and facilitate intimate partner violence (IPV). This study aimed to measure and map hostile sexism attitudes at the neighbourhood level and to assess whether neighbourhood-level hostile sexism was associated with the risk of IPV across city neighbourhoods in Valencia, Spain. Using geocoded data on 2,060 IPV cases and survey data from 8,165 participants, the study employed Bayesian spatial modelling to identify clustering and associations. Findings revealed a spatial pattern in hostile sexist attitudes, with higher levels of neighbourhood sexism linked to higher relative risks of IPV, even after accounting for income, immigrant concentration, social disorder, and other variables. The results highlight the need for neighbourhood-level prevention strategies targeting sexist social norms and attitudes to reduce IPV risk.