Exploring a Source of Deviance-Producing Strain for Females Perceived Discrimination and General Strain Theory

• NCJ Number: 197174
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 30 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2002 Pages: 429-442
• Author(s): David J. Eitle
• Date Published: September 2002
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored whether measures of discrimination experiences were related to female criminal activity and/or diagnoses of substance use disorders.

Abstract

The issue of whether gender discrimination produced deviance among females has never been adequately tested. The hypothesis of this study was that perceived discrimination, gender-based or otherwise, could have criminogenic consequences. Between 1998 and 2000, interviews with young adult females from a southeastern city were conducted. Perceived discrimination was examined to determine if it predicted females’ involvement in deviant activity and/or substance abuse/dependence. The general strain theory (GST) considers situations and relationships in which there occurs a removal of positively valued stimuli and the presence of noxious or unpleasant stimuli as sources of strain that could lead to deviant behavior. Discrimination could have a negative impact on the emotional well being of victims, playing a critical role in the theoretical models of many explanations of deviance, including strain explanations. The finding was that females that perceived they had been victims of major gender-based discriminatory events were more likely to be involved in crime and experience substance use disorders than their counterparts. This supports both the general principles of GST and the extension of the theory to female deviance. These findings support both the notions that GST principles could explain female misbehavior and that the pathways to crime and substance use problems for females might involve trigger sources distinct from those that lead males to such behaviors. There is a need to continue to pursue research focusing on the unique experiences of females and how these experiences affect their lives, without the need to consider these experiences and responses relative to males. 4 tables, 2 appendixes, 7 notes, 43 references