NCJ Number
53816
Date Published
1977
Length
173 pages
Annotation
DATA GATHERED FROM 1,002 STUDENTS IN THE NASHVILLE, TENN., SCHOOL SYSTEM WERE STUDIED IN AN EXPLORATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DOMINANT GENDER ROLES AND DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
TWO ASSUMPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH GENDER ROLES AND DELINQUENCY WERE INVESTIGATED: (1) THAT A DIRECT CONNECTION EXISTS BETWEEN MASCULINE AND FEMININE GENDER ROLES AND DELINQUENCY INVOLVEMENT; AND (2) THAT MASCULINE AND FEMININE GENDER ROLE INDIRECTLY AFFECT DELINQUENCY THROUGH SEVERAL SOCIAL CONTROL VARIABLES. THE SUBJECTS WERE ADMINISTERED AN ANONYMOUS SELF-REPORT QUESTIONNAIRE (APPENDED) WHICH INCLUDED 14 DELINQUENCY ITEMS TAKEN FROM PAST RESEARCH. THE DATA WERE THEN SUBJECTED TO ORDINAL AND PATH ANALYSES. LITTLE EVIDENCE WAS FOUND IN THE FIRST PHASE (ORDINAL) ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT THE ARGUMENT THAT GENDER EXPLAINS THE RELATIONSHIP OF SEX TO DELINQUENCY. SEX IS STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH DELINQUENCY REGARDLESS OF GENDER. HOWEVER, EVIDENCE WAS FOUND THAT FEMININE GENDER IDENTIFICATION IS INVERSELY RELATED TO DELINQUENCY FOR FEMALES BUT NOT MALES. THIS SUGGESTS THAT SELF-EXPECTATIONS AS FEMININE RETARD DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AMONG FEMALES. MASCULINE IDENTIFICATION HAS NO EFFECT ON DELINQUENCY WHEN SEX IS HELD CONSTANT. BOYS AND GIRLS WITH HIGHLY MASCULINE SELF-EXPECTATIONS ARE NO MORE DELINQUENT THAN THOSE WITH LESS MASCULINE EXPECTATIONS. WHEN THE ORDINAL AND PATH RESULTS ARE COMPARED, SEVERAL INCONSISTENCIES ARE REVEALED. OF MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE IS THE FINDING THAT IN THE FEMALE PATH MODEL THERE ARE ONLY INDIRECT PATHS FROM MASCULINE AND FEMININE GENDER TO DELINQUENCY VIA THE VARIABLES OF ATTACHMENT TO PARENTS, BELIEF IN OBEDIENCE OF LAWS, AND DELINQUENCY OF COMPANIONS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--KBL)