NCJ Number
164541
Date Published
1996
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Using evidence from the author's research, this chapter examines the socialization of fear during childhood, with attention to its gender, class, and racial connotations.
Abstract
The discussion first identifies and discusses core issues that question the findings to date on "gendered" adult fear; these include the sample population, the role of socialization processes, and a skewed emphasis on sexuality. The author's research is then described. The central assumption on which the research is based is that gendered fear is a product of socialization processes that have adolescence, puberty, and the construction of the "sexual being" as pivotal in the development of female fear and male threat. The 9-month investigation (1991- 92) examined gendered fear of crime among white, working class, 11- to 16-year-olds in a state-run school in northern of England. A total of 663 children from the school completed a self-report, victimization, survey-style questionnaire. The questions had the aim of noting the diverse range of influences upon adolescent fear from peers, parents, school, the media, respondent victimization, and their knowledge of others' victimization in and around the housing estate where the research was conducted. The information obtained showed the extent to which gendered fear is the product of socialization processes that shape to their own ends the biological changes that affect both sexes at puberty. Gender emerged from the research as the common denominator of fear, with age also showing difference, but within proportionally gendered parameters. Fear of crime may decrease with adolescent age, but girls' fear, over all, remains higher than that of their male peers. Class and race were homogeneous variables among the population sampled, but this did not negate their role in the interpretation of results. Limitations of the research and suggestions for future research in this area are discussed. 6 notes and 38 references