NCJ Number
88351
Date Published
1982
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) for 1965 through 1980 demonstrate that adult female criminality is not becoming more like male criminality; the only observable changes have been increases in arrests for larceny and fraud.
Abstract
Male and female arrest rates per 100,000 adults (aged 18 through 59) for 1965 and 1980 show similar patterns of change, with large increases occurring only for larceny, fraud, driving under the influence, and narcotic drug laws. Moreover, these changes may reflect shifts in public attitudes and police practices rather than actual behaviors. The sex differential, defined as the female share of all arrests in a specific offense category, has narrowed slightly for burglary and widened slightly for aggravated assault. Similar patterns appear in most remaining UCR categories, and the statistical insignificance of all changes indicates that the sex differential is holding constant. Offense categories that showed decreasing arrests, such as negligent manslaughter and sex offenses, also revealed little change in the sex differential. Larceny rates have been rising rapidly for both sexes, but the sex differential has narrowed considerably. Similar patterns occur in fraud and, to a lesser extent, forgery. Statistics also fail to support the claim that as women become increasingly involved in activities previously restricted to men, they will become more like men in their participation in crime. The sex differential has not changed in arrests for violent crime. Increases in arrests of women for serious crimes are almost entirely due to more women being arrested for larceny, specifically shoplifting. Increases in female arrests for petty property crimes represent extensions of female role activities rather than new role patterns. In addition, the increase could also be attributed to a crackdown on shoplifting, improved fraud detection methods, changes in police attitudes toward female suspects, and the worsening economic position of many women. Further analysis reveals that whatever changes were occurring began prior to the Women's Movement. Evidence from the National Crime Survey and self-report studies also shows little or no change in female crime relative to male crime over the past two decades. The article include six footnotes.