In addressing IPV/sexual violence, practitioners should consider which factors as part of intersectional risk assessment?

• A. Age and income only.
• B. Geographic location only.
• C. Race, gender, sexuality, disability, immigration status, and class.
• D. Type of violence only.

Answer: (C)

Intersectional risk assessment starts from the idea that risk isn’t the same for everyone because people carry multiple identities that interact with social systems of power. Including race, gender, sexuality, disability, immigration status, and class recognizes how oppression, stigma, and barriers to resources accumulate to shape a survivor’s vulnerability, safety planning, and access to help. Each factor changes how risk appears and how difficult it is to seek support or leave an abusive situation. For instance, immigration status can bring fear of authorities and language barriers; disability can create accessibility challenges; and class can influence economic dependence and housing stability. When these identities intersect, they produce unique risk profiles that a survivor-centered assessment must address. Focusing only on age and income, or on geographic location alone, or on the type of violence alone misses how identities compound risk and shape response, making a broad, intersectional approach the most effective.