Dimensions of Gender and Delinquent Behavior: An Analysis of Qualitative Data on Incarcerated Youths and Their Siblings in Greater Sacramento

• NCJ Number: 151006
• Author(s): J Bottcher
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 50 pages
• Grant Number(s): JJ89G19501
• Sponsoring Agency: California Office of Criminal Justice Planning
• Sale Source: California Dept of the Youth Authority; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study presumed that increased knowledge of how gender produces consistent differences in criminal involvement would improve the understanding of social circumstances that place adolescents at greater risk of delinquent association and involvement.

Abstract

Study methods were based on the expectation that the relation between gender and crime would be confirmed by the relative absence of crime by sisters of males incarcerated by the California Youth Authority (CYA), compared to brothers of incarcerated males. A group of incarcerated males with sisters and/or brothers of similar age, with the same mother, and from a common home background in the greater Sacramento area was identified from CYA records. Sibling pairs and groups were then interviewed individually and at some length about their adolescent life histories. Data were obtained from 69 interviews with 29 different families. Interview data were analyzed to isolate life circumstances and characteristics that distinguished males from females and more delinquent from less delinquent youth. The analysis clearly confirmed the expectation that brothers would be more delinquent than sisters. All but one of the brothers had been arrested, compared to less than half of the sisters. Males lived in a wider geographic area than girls, spent more hours daily outside the home, had greater freedom of physical movement, reflected stereotypical male traits, and engaged in less focused adult role activity. Gender dimensions were less stereotypical for delinquent sisters and nondelinquent brothers and more stereotypical for nondelinquent sisters and delinquent males. For example, delinquent girls had more freedom to be away from home, to be out late at night, and to hang around with other delinquent youths. The author identifies two mutually reinforcing policy implications of the study findings: (2) policies should be supported that facilitate greater attention and discipline for boys from lower socioeconomic classes; and (2) policies should be supported that provide structured opportunities for self-development and recognition for all youths from lower socioeconomic classes. An appendix contains the study interview guide. 29 references and 2 tables