Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Gender and Delinquency

Introduction

  • Discusses gender differences in delinquency as well as gender-based experiences, developmental rates, and motivations in offending.

The Gender Ratio in Offending

  • Feminist criminologists' consensus on:

    • Differences in adolescent experiences by gender.

    • Developmental rates vary significantly between genders.

    • Male and female offending patterns differ in scope and motivation.

  • General Agreement:

    • Female adolescents typically receive more social support and supervision than males.

  • Disagreement:

    • How to effectively address male-centered approaches to delinquency.

The Gender-Ratio Issue

  • Importance of understanding gender differences in delinquency:

    • Questions to consider:

      • Why are females less involved in crime?

      • Why are males more crime-prone?

      • What accounts for these gender differences?

  • This concern is referred to as the “gender-ratio issue.”

Areas of Inquiry

  • Framework for exploring the gender ratio includes:

    • Gendered Pathways: Different paths to delinquency based on gender.

    • Gendered Crime: Variations in types of crime committed by different genders.

    • Gendered Lives: How societal roles and expectations influence delinquent behavior.

Gender Roles and Delinquency

  • Socialization of Gender Roles:

    • Children absorb and understand gender roles through socialization, impacting behaviors.

  • Definitions:

    • Gender: Traits and roles associated with being male or female.

    • Gender Role: Societal expectations of masculine and feminine behavior.

  • Recent acknowledgment of biological influences on behavior while recognizing socialization’s role.

Differences Between Girls’ and Boys’ Delinquency

  • Table 6–1:

    • Girls and boys differ in focus and aggression types:

      • Girls: Relationship-based, relational aggression.

      • Boys: Rule-based, over-aggression.

Characteristics of Female Delinquents

  • Common background traits among incarcerated females include:

    • Family dysfunction, trauma, abuse, mental health issues, substance abuse, risky behavior, academic struggles, delinquent peers.

Causes of Girls’ Delinquency

  • Research projects (i.e., Girls’ Study Group) indicate:

    • Girls face distinct challenges leading to delinquency.

    • Girls’ delinquent acts are often less severe than boys’.

    • High incidence of trauma, especially sexual abuse, and varying reactions to stressors among genders.

Explanations of Female Delinquency

  • Biological Factors:

    • Stress, ADHD, early puberty, mental health issues are vulnerabilities that affect girls more than boys.

  • Psychological Factors:

    • Puberty onset, identification processes, and societal shifts in females’ roles contribute to delinquency.

  • Sociological Factors:

    • General Strain Theory, blocked opportunities, and social learning influence delinquency rates.

Feminist Theories of Delinquency

  • Views on girls’ victimization and its relationship to crime remain underexplored.

  • Four Propositions by Meda Chesney-Lind:

    • Girls are often victims of violence, influencing their criminal behavior.

    • Victimizers exploit social control to keep girls vulnerable.

    • Abusive situations lead to actions that can result in delinquency.

    • Economic and social pressures can lead to vulnerability in female delinquents.

Influence of Class

  • Economic conditions affect delinquency risk, especially for adolescent females.

  • Class differences shape experiences and access to coping mechanisms.

Racial Discrimination

  • Minority girls face compounded issues of racism and poverty, leading to unique struggles including association with gangs and increased victimization risks.

Prevention of Delinquency

  • Programs like Girls Inc. advocate for a strong sense of self in girls to prevent delinquency, emphasizing rights to individuality and safety.

Gender and Resilience

  • Resilience defined as coping ability in face of adversity.

  • Key risk factors include abuse and neglect; protective factors involve supportive relationships and school success.

Delinquency Across the Life Course

  • Gender differences evident in longitudinal delinquency studies.

Social Policy and Gender Responsiveness

  • Calls for policies that recognize gendered differences in delinquency to improve intervention strategies.

Delinquency and LGBTQ+ Youth

  • The impact of gender identity and sexual orientation plays a crucial role in delinquency rates.

  • Research indicates higher rates of victimization and homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth.

Policy Recommendations

  • Recent developments in policy addressing LGBTQ+ youth aim to protect against discrimination in juvenile justice systems.