Responding to Neighborhood Problems: Is the Division of Community Labor Gendered?

Abstract

Social disorganization theory positions informal social control as central to neighborhood crime reduction. Although neighborhood ties, fear of crime, and perceived disorder influence the exercise of informal social control, there are significant sex differences for these drivers that might differentially influence men and women's informal social control actions. Furthermore, these differences may be exaggerated under conditions that activate gendered divisions of labor. We use survey data from 4,000 residents in 148 neighborhoods and employ multilevel logistic regression to examine the relationship between sex and informal social control actions. We find that men are more likely to take action than women; however, our three-way interactions reveal family arrangements moderate the relationship between ties, fear of crime, disorder, and these actions.

Vulnerability in the neighbourhood: A study of gender differences in perceptions of control

“…Our findings suggest women's perceptions of control over potential victimisation is informed through the actions and behaviours of all residents, including their male counterparts, in the neighbourhood to protect against crime, rather than women having access to resources to protect themselves. Wickes, Broidy and Hipp (2018) found men in the neighbourhood were more likely to exercise informal social control actions in response to crime and community problems. Given women's perceptions of crime are largely understood through male predatory behaviour and violence (Stanko 1990), it may be that the social dynamics that create collectively efficacious neighbourhoods reduce male violence and increase positive male behaviours in the neighbourhood which engender a sense of control over potential victimisation for women.…”

‘African gangs’ in Australia: Perceptions of race and crime in urban neighbourhoods

“…All items loaded on one underlying factor (eigenvalue 4.64) with all factor loadings between 0.584 and 0.786. This scale, originally adapted from the General Household Study, is used extensively in the criminological literature (for example Oidjarv, 2018; Piquero, 1999; Taylor, 2000), including studies in Australia (for example Hipp & Wickes, 2018; Wickes et al., 2018; Wickes, Hipp, et al., 2017).…”

Disorder, Incivilities, and Broken Windows

“…Residents' perceptions of disorder may also reduce citizen participation in crime prevention efforts (Michener, 2013;Ren et al, 2019) and lower neighborhood attachment (O'Brien et al, 2019). Some perceptions of disorder may spur individual action while simultaneously lowering perception of cohesion and collective efficacy Wickes et al, 2018). Sampson (2009) assesses the durable inequality of neighborhoods, highlighting the impact perceptions of disorder have on neighborhoods, and finding that shared perceptions of disorder may impact a neighborhood's future socio-economic trajectory.…”