GENDER ROLES AND DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 61248
• Journal: Social Forces Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 162-175
• Author(s): N SHOVER; S NORLAND; J JAMES; W E THORNTON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH-127345
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Corporate Author: University of North Carolina Press
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EARLIER VERSION OF THIS PAPER READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 1978

Annotation

TWO MODELS OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TRADITIONAL SEX ROLES AND DELINQUENCY WERE COMPARED USING A SELF-REPORTING STUDY OF 1,002 STUDENTS IN ONE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. CITY.

Abstract

THE FIRST MODEL EXAMINED WAS MASCULINITY THEORY, ACCORDING TO WHICH THERE IS AN AFFINITY BETWEEN TRADITIONAL MASCULINE BEHAVIOR AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE SECOND MODEL, THE OPPORTUNITY AND CONTROLS THEORY, ARGUES THAT GENDER EFFECTS OPERATE INDIRECTLY THROUGH OTHER VARIABLES BECAUSE MALES HAVE GREATER OPPORTUNITY THAN DO FEMALES TO ENGAGE IN CRIME, ALONG WITH FEWER SOCIAL CONTROLS. HOWEVER, RECENT EMPIRICAL WORK SUGGESTED THAT CHANGES IN GENDER ROLES DO NOT AFFECT ALL TYPES OF CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT EQUALLY. IN THE PRESENT STUDY, STUDENTS STUDIED WERE VOLUNTEERS FROM GRADES EIGHT THROUGH TWELVE IN SEVERAL SCHOOLS. TWO SEPARATE DELINQUENCY MEASURES WERE USED, ONE FOR AGGRESSIVE OFFENSES AND ONE FOR PROPERTY OFFENSES. PATH ANALYTIC PROCEDURES ANALYZED THE DATA. RESULTS PROVIDED GREATER SUPPORT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND SOCIAL CONTROLS MODEL THAN FOR THE MASCULINITY MODEL. MASCULINE ROLE EXPECTATIONS WERE A LESS POWERFUL PREDICTOR OF JUVENILES' OPPORTUNITY AND SOCIAL CONTROLS THAN WERE TRADITIONAL FEMININE ROLE EXPECTATIONS. RESULTS AGREED WITH OTHER STUDIES SUGGESTING THAT MODIFICATIONS OF THE TRADITIONAL FEMININE ROLE LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN FEMALE PROPERTY CRIME. UNLIKE OTHER STUDIES THIS RESEARCH SUGGESTED A FUTURE INCREASE IN FEMALE AGGRESSIVENESS ACCOMPANYING CHANGING ROLE EXPECTATIONS, DUE BOTH TO CHANGES AND TO INDIRECT EFFECTS. FOR BOYS, THE EFFECTS OF DECLINING TRADITIONAL FEMININE ROLE EXPECTATIONS OPERATED INDIRECTLY THROUGH ASSOCIATION WITH WOMEN. NEVERTHELESS, THE INCREASES IN CRIME SHOULD NOT BE LARGE BECAUSE THE MODEL ACCOUNTS FOR LESS THAN 15 PERCENT OF THE VARIATION IN BOTH TYPES OF OFFENSES STUDIED. FIGURES, TABLES, FOOTNOTES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)