NCJ Number
58759
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 70 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1979) Pages: 145-151
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
BLOCKED OPPORTUNITY AS AN EXPLANATORY FACTOR IN FEMALE DELINQUENCY IS EXPLORED IN AN ANALYSIS OF SELF-REPORT DATA GATHERED IN 1977 FROM 1,355 MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS IN 3 MIDWESTERN URBAN HIGH SCHOOLS.
Abstract
THE HYPOTHESIS UNDER CONSIDERATION IS THAT, AS IS THE CASE WITH MALES, FEMALES TURN TO DELINQUENCY WHEN THEY PERCEIVE THAT THEY ARE BEING DENIED LEGITIMATE EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES (GENERAL BLOCKED OPPORTUNITY). IT IS FURTHER HYPOTHESIZED THAT FEMALE DELINQUENCY IS NOT A FUNCTION OF GENDER-LINKED BLOCKED OPPORTUNITY (I.E., FEMALES' PERCEPTIONS THAT THEY ARE BEING DENIED OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE FEMALE). THE SELF-REPORT DATA SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESES. FEMALE INVOLVEMENT IN DELINQUENCY IS PREDICTED BY PERCEPTIONS OF GENERAL BLOCKED OPPORTUNITY BUT NOT BY PERCEPTIONS OF GENDER-LINKED BLOCKED OPPORTUNITY. THE DATA ALSO SHOW THAT THE INFLUENCE OF PERCEIVED BLOCKED OPPORTUNITY ON DELINQUENCY INVOLVEMENT IS GREATER FOR WHITES THAN FOR NONWHITES, REGARDLESS OF GENDER. ONE (HIGHLY SPECULATIVE) INTERPRETATION OF THIS FINDING IS THAT IT MAY REFLECT RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN LEVELS OF EXPECTATION. THE FINDINGS POINT TO THE UTILITY OF EXAMINING IN RELATION TO FEMALE DELINQUENCY VARIABLES THAT HAVE PROVEN USEFUL IN EXPLAINING MALE DELINQUENCY. HOWEVER, THE FINDINGS ARE NOT INTERPRETED TO SUGGEST THAT FEMALES WHO ENGAGE IN DELINQUENT ACTIVITIES ARE MORE 'MALE-LIKE' THAN CONFORMIST FEMALES, OR THAT GENDER-SPECIFIC VARIABLES HAVE NO ROLE IN THE GENESIS OF DELINQUENCY. THE THEORETICAL ORIENTATION OF THE RESEARCH IS DISCUSSED, AND SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)