ON COMPLICATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIBERATION AND DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 59794
• Journal: Social Problems Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (APRIL 1979) Pages: 467-481
• Author(s): P C GIORDANO; S A CERNKOVICH
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 29095-01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: Soc for the Study of Social Problems
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REVISION OF A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE 1977 MEETINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION-RESEARCH COMMITTEE FOR THE SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL, AUGUST 9-11, DUBLIN, IRELAND

Annotation

DATA FROM A QUESTIONNAIRE GIVEN TO GIRLS IN THREE URBAN HIGH SCHOOLS AND TWO STATE INSTITUTIONS SUGGEST THERE IS LITTLE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LIBERATED ATTITUDES AND SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY.

Abstract

THE SAMPLE CONTAINED 740 GIRLS (MEAN AGE 16.33 YEARS) FROM MIDWESTERN HIGH SCHOOLS WITH A MIX OF ETHNIC AND RACIAL ATTENDEES AND 167 GIRLS FROM TWO MAJOR STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (MEAN AGE 16.10 YEARS). THE HIGH SCHOOL SAMPLE WAS 50-PERCENT NONWHITE; THE INSTITUTIONAL SAMPLE, 48-PERCENT NONWHITE. THE DELINQUENTS HAD SLIGHTLY LOWER SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS. THE RESPONSES EXPLODE THE MYTH THAT A FEMALE IS MOST LIKELY TO BECOME DELINQUENT WHILE ACTING AS THE PASSIVE PARTNER IN A ROMANTIC INVOLVEMENT. INSTEAD, THE GIRLS FELT THEY WERE LEAST LIKELY TO GET INTO TROUBLE WHEN WITH ONE MALE. DELINQUENCY MOST OFTEN OCCURRED IN MIXED-SEX PEER GROUPS, WITH 30 PERCENT OF THE INSTITUTIONAL SAMPLE AND 43.2 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL SAMPLE REPORTING THIS AS THE TIME WHEN TROUBLE IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR. IN ADDITION, 22.5 PERCENT OF THE INSTITUTIONAL SAMPLE (COMPARED TO 6.4 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL SAMPLE) FELT THEY WERE LIKELY TO GET INTO TROUBLE WHEN ALONE. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER ALSO REPORTED DELINQUENCY WHEN IN A GROUP OF ALL GIRLS OR ALL BOYS. THE GROUP DYNAMICS REPORTED RESEMBLE FINDINGS IN STUDIES OF MALE DELINQUENCY. THE GIRLS REPORTED 'WANTING A PIECE OF THE ACTION' AND WANTING TO IMPRESS A BOYFRIEND. DELINQUENCY WAS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY CORRELATED WITH ATTITUDES TOWARDS LIBERATION FOR WOMEN, AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS FAMILY AND BOYFRIENDS WERE A BIT MORE TRADITIONAL IN THE DELINQUENT THAN IN THE NONDELINQUENT SAMPLE. HOWEVER, THE DELINQUENT GIRLS WERE LESS LIKELY TO FEEL THAT MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN WERE IMPORTANT. THESE CONTRADICTIONS SUGGEST MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED ON FEMALE DELINQUENCY. STUDY DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)