Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
GENDER, CRIME, AND THE CRIMINAL LAW DEFENSES. |
| Authors: |
Denno, Deborah W. |
| Source: |
Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology. Summer94, Vol. 85 Issue 1, p80-180. 101p. 2 Diagrams, 8 Charts, 5 Graphs. |
| Subjects: |
Gender differences (Psychology) in children, Child psychology, Sexual psychology, Violent children, Aggression (Psychology) in children, Child psychopathology, Crime, Criminal behavior, Criminology |
| Geographic Terms: |
United States |
| Abstract: |
This article examines the reasons for gender disparities in the commission of crime and considers the consequences for women's culpability for their criminal conduct in the U.S. Gender is allegedly among the strongest predictors of crime, particularly violent crime. Arrest, self report, and victimization data show that men and boys commit significantly more crime, both serious and not, than women and girls. Such a pattern persists despite data indicating that crimes committed by females may be rising. Evidence also suggests that males are generally more aggressive than females, even before the preschool years. Yet most theories and explanations of crime are apparently gender blind. They either bypass the gender issue entirely or focus solely on why females fail to resemble males in their behavior. Such theories also ignore the possibility that explanations for the gender disparity in crime may help account for the underlying correlates of crime in general. The Biosocial study in the U.S. followed nearly 1000 Philadelphia residents from birth through early adulthood and examined numerous variables. The individuals came from families who participated in the Philadelphia Collaborative Perinatal Project at Pennsylvania Hospital between 1959 and 1966. |
| Database: |
Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
