NCJ Number
114479
Journal
Criminology Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: (November 1988) Pages: 627-647
Date Published
1988
Length
21 pages
Annotation
In a recent series of articles, John Hagan et al (1979, 1985, 1987) argue that the relationship between gender and delinquency is linked to power and control within the family.
Abstract
The present study replicated Hagan's study and extended power-control theory by including a risk-taking variable. Data were for 705 juveniles in public and private schools and 560 of their parents. Findings both converge and diverge from the power-control theory. Mothers controlled daughters more than sons in both patriarchal (unbalanced) and balanced households. Sons were more likely to engage in risk-taking than were daughters. Maternal control and risk-taking reduced the relationship between gender and delinquency, but only in balanced households. Finally, when maternal control and individual and group-related risk-taking are held constant, the relationship between gender and delinquency becomes comparable for both balanced and unbalanced households. Contrary to theory, balanced family class structures did not reduce the disparity between male and female delinquency. Rather, the gender difference in control and individual risk-taking was greater for balanced than for unbalanced households. The major variable contributing to this finding was the willingness to follow peers and take risks in a group: Girls in unbalanced families were more likely than boys to follow peers in group-related risk-taking, while boys in balanced families were more likely than girls to to follow peers in group-related risk-taking. 3 tables and 12 references. (Author abstract modified)