Gender and Family
Autor: ggbanks3 • August 27, 2012 • Research Paper • 1,467 Words (6 Pages) • 1,302 Views
Gender and Family
When it comes to gender and delinquency it seems that males have a higher delinquency
rate. This may be due to the roles in the family unit. One theory is that girls are less delinquent
than boys because they are supervised more closely, have stronger emotional bonds to families
and thus are less free to break the law (Hagan et al, 1985; Jensen and Eve 1976; Singer and
Levine 1988). Males tend to be allowed more freedom than their female counterparts. Males
are normally taught that they are the strong one and that they are the protector and the
provider. Females are normally taught that they are the home maker and there to take care of
male therefore the female is in the home learning the tasks of cleaning, cooking and being a
homemaker.
Some explanations to the difference of gender delinquency as it relates to male and females
are related to social practices that intertwined with delinquent activities such as constraining
female delinquency while enabling and rewarding male delinquency. Other differences include
male dominance, differences in routine daily activities, variations in sexual interest and
transition into adulthood and, the ideology of defining crime as male activity and childcare as
female activity (Bottcher, 2001).
When it comes to delinquency among juveniles it plays a very important role. If the juvenile
has not been taught any differently then he or she does not know any better. The family is the
first teacher. The mother and father are the ones who this child looks at first for direction in
their life. If there are no teachers meaning the mother and the father then what can we expect
but a society of delinquents.
The makeup of the family is very important. Children that come from a two parent
households where they know that they are loved and the parents are a constant factor in their
life are more likely not to be a delinquent. Children that come from one parent households
sometimes are looking for acceptance and love from the male or female figure that is missing in
...