NCJ Number
85300
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1982) Pages: 25-31
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The causes of juvenile delinquency are examined, with emphasis on juvenile delinquency among females and various explanations offered for it.
Abstract
Delinquency is a multidimensional and multicausal phenomenon which must be viewed in terms of the socioeconomic, cultural, and political context of a given society at a given time and place. In addition, female juvenile delinquency can be fully understood only if studied with reference to male juvenile delinquency. The process leading to delinquency starts when youths stop identifying with conventional values. The conflict of needs and interests between society, the individual segments of society, or an individual increases the chance of social deviance. Both male and female juvenile delinquency arise mainly from youths' social position and from the specific sociocultural position of both sexes. Although sufficient evidence does not exist to prove that female delinquency is part of growing opportunities for women, female delinquency appears to be, in part, a way of exploring various means of goal achievement which were not available to females in the past. Uncertainties exist regarding the role in delinquency of psychological factors which are linked to gender. In addition, historical human development must be examined to understand human conduct. For example, females were traditionally programmed to be a passive, complementary half of the superior male and were viewed as sociopathological if they engaged in delinquent behavior. Women's increased participation in economic production has reduced the polarization of the sexes and stereotyped codes of behavior. Thus, it is more useful to focus on the interactions between individual delinquents and society than to view delinquency in terms of gender. Twenty-eight reference notes are provided.