NCJ Number
212240
Journal
Women & Criminal Justice Volume: 16 Issue: 1/2 Dated: 2005 Pages: 1-28
Date Published
2005
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This article examines the concerns regarding the underrepresentation of females in criminological research.
Abstract
Using a content analysis of criminological research, this paper addresses the following questions: (1) to what extent have females been included in criminological research during the period 1895 to 1997; (2) to what extent is the underrepresentation of females related to the numerical dominance of men in authorship positions; and (3) when females have been included in criminological research, to what extent has the focus of the research been on prostitution? Data for this research came from a content analysis of criminological articles published in a sample of leading American and British sociological and criminological journals between January 1, 1895, and December 31, 1997. A total of 1,785 American and 532 British articles were analyzed. Each of the articles was classified as research or non-research. Research articles, which contained the use of samples, were examined more closely and the following information was recorded: sex composition of primary sample, sex of first author and sex of subsequent author(s), and type of offense(s) under consideration. Analysis of the data reveals a severe and long-term underrepresentation of females in criminological research that appears to be related to the tendency of numerically dominant male researchers to focus on male subjects. The findings however, did not show that research on and about females has been conducted primarily by females nor did the research focus primarily on a “female” offense such as prostitution. Study limitations are discussed as well as implications for future research. Tables, figures, notes, and references