DEVIANCE AS PROBLEM SOLVING - TOWARDS AN EXPLANATION OF FEMALE PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES

• NCJ Number: 60809
• Journal: Kriminologisches Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 305-314
• Author(s): D GIPSER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Juventa Verlag
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

FEMALE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IS INTERPRETED AS A FORM OF PROBLEM SOLVING SPECIFIC TO WOMEN WHO HAVE NO LEGITIMATE MEANS TO REACH THEIR GOALS.

Abstract

IN THE CASES OF 1600 DOCUMENTS EVALUATED AND 237 16 TO 21-YEAR-OLD GIRLS INTERVIEWED, A CONNECTION WAS FOUND BETWEEN THE CLASS-SPECIFIC INTERNALIZED IMAGE OF THE WOMAN'S ROLE AND THE KIND OF DELINQUENCY: DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR MAY BE ROLE SUPPORTIVE (E.G., THEFT OF ARTICLES FOR ATTRACTING PARTNERS) IN GIRLS WITH TRADITIONAL ROLE IMAGES, SYMBOLIC OF ROLES (E.G., PROSTITUTION) IN EMANCIPATED GIRLS, OR COMPENSATORY IN GIRLS WITH CONFLICTING IMAGES. THE DARK FIGURES FOR SUCH CRIMES IN THE IMMEDIATE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IS HIGH BECAUSE OF THE RELUCTANCE OF VICTIMS TO REPORT CRIMES. TO EXPLAIN FEMALE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT (1) SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IS DETERMINED BY INDIVIDUAL GOALS, POSSIBILITIES FOR ACTION, LIFE SITUATIONS, AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS; (2) THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING WHAT BEHAVIOR IS DEVIANT IS CONTROLLED BY SOCIAL POWER RELATIONSHIPS; AND (3) INDIVIDUAL DISADVANTAGES WITHIN SUCH A SYSTEM CAN BE INTERPRETED AS INDIVIDUAL FAILURE OR THE EXPRESSION OF A GROUP'S POSITION. IN WOMEN, DEVIANT BEHAVIOR BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN THE LIMITATIONS OF SOCIAL POSITION ARE SEVERE. THE DEFINITION OF DEVIANCE DEPENDS ON THE IMAGE OF WOMAN'S ROLE HELD BY INSTITUTIONS OF SOCIAL CONTROL; UNDERPRIVILEGED WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY THAN MIDDLE CLASS WOMEN TO BE LABELED CRIMINALS BY CONTROL AGENCIES. SOCIAL REACTIONS TO WOMEN'S DEVIANT BEHAVIOR DEPEND ON THE TRADITIONAL IMAGES OF WOMEN'S ROLES; ATYPICAL BEHAVIOR IS PUNISHED SEVERELY, AND TREATMENT SEEKS TO RESTORE THE TRADITIONAL ROLE. MAINTAINING FEMALE ROLES BY SOCIAL CONTROL AGENCIES PRESERVES THE EXISTING POWER RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY. MORE EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS SHOULD THEREFORE CONSIDER INDIVIDUAL BIOGRAPHIES, RESTRICTION OF WOMEN TO REPRODUCTION AS WELL AS RELATED SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND THE SOCIAL POSITION OF WOMEN DUE TO THE POLARIZED SEX ROLES OF CAPITALIST SOCIETY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)