NCJ Number
225924
Date Published
2008
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This chapter presents an overview and three possible hypotheses regarding the influence of gender on processing alleged offender: the equal treatment hypothesis, the chivalry hypothesis, and the evil woman hypothesis; and also presents an overview of the systemic processing, treatment, and punishment of female delinquents and presents recommendations to enhance systemic responses to them.
Abstract
Improving systemic responses to female delinquency requires that more innovative preventive measures be taken, and that programs for institutionalized girls be improved and strengthened, recognizing gender differences, sexism, and the “real-life” experiences of delinquent girls. The authors of this chapter argue that in order to comprehend the etiology and treatment of female delinquents, it is necessary to understand both traditional sexist criminological theorizing (pre-feminist theories) as well as more recent research focusing on girls, women, or addressing gender difference (feminist perspectives). The importance of understanding and acknowledging traditional theories are noted because they have had a significant impact on how scholars have addressed female (and male) offending, as well on how girls and women have been responded to and treated differently by professionals in the system, usually to the disadvantage of females. A representation of female delinquents who are most at risk of becoming delinquent is then introduced, delineating the pattern of a girl moving from victim, to survivor, to offender. This chapter reviews the many avenues through which female delinquents have been ignored or treated in sexist manners. Tables and references