Sex Differences in Self‐Report Delinquency

Abstract

This study describes the distribution, nature, pattern, and magnitude of sex differences in self-report delinquency. A national probability sample of 1725 youths, ages 11-17, was interviewed using a comprehensive measure of self-report delinquency including serious and violent crimes. Major findings include (1) small but consistent sex differences in numerous delinquent behaviors and in most types of delinquent behavior due to higher offense frequencies of males and greater numbers of male offenders, (2) generally similar patterns of male and female delinquency (r = .82).(3) sex differences in the proportion of high-frequency offenders, (4) few interaction effects of sex with other demographic variables, and (5) stable sex differences in certain delinquent acts across a decade.The debate over the nature, magnitude, and distribution of sex differences in delinquency continues, despite a proliferation of studies. While there is general agreement between official and self-report studies that males are involved in more delinquency than females, there is widespread disagreement over the magnitude and nature of the sex difference. Indeed, the controversy extends to the very method (official or selfreport measures) that is best suited to resolve the debate.Studies using official and self-report measures of delinquency agree that males are involved in substantially more delinquent behavior than females, but disagree as to the magnitude of this difference. In official statistics malejfemale ratios generally fall within the range of 3:l to 7:l (Cockburn and Maclay, 1965;Edwards, 1973;Wattenberg and Saunders, 1954;Wolfgang, 1979). The 1978 Uniform Crime Reports indicate a maldfemale ratio of 3.6:l for youth under 18 (US. Department of Justice, 1979). Malejfemale ratios observed in self-report delinquency AUTHORS NOTE: The author i s indebted to Drs. D. Wayne Osgood, David Huizinga, and Hart Weichselbaum for their valuable comments on earlier drafts of this article.

Sex disparities in arrests by residence, race, and age: An assessment of the gender convergence/crime hypothesis

“…The Downloaded by [Queensland University of Technology] at 11:28 13 October 2014 UCR arrest data, however, are consistent with self-report and survey data representing the best available nonofficial evidence. The latter data support the thesis that sex disparities in crime are overwhelmingly consistent across rural-urban differences (Canter 1982;Laub 1983), are comparable among blacks and whites (Canter 1982;Hindelang et al 1981;Laub 1983;Young 1980), and are virtually identical across age groups (Rowe and Tittle 1977).…”

“…(For the cross-national analysis, see Hartnagel 1982; for the analysis of World War II patterns see Steffensmeier at al. 1980; for analyses of recent trends, see Canter 1982;Mann 1984;Steffensmeier 1987).…”

Externalizing behaviors as predictors of substance initiation trajectories among rural adolescents

“…Those studies typically have found that adolescent boys have higher levels of externalizing behaviors than do girls [22,23]. In a review of 74 studies examining the association between conduct problems and delinquency, however, only 8 (11%) were found that included both boys and girls [24].…”

Du côté des filles et des femmes, leur délinquance, leur criminalité

“…Cette difficulté est quelques peu contournée par Canter (1982) qui inclut une très grande variété d'actes délinquants dans son étude sur les différences selon le sexe dans la délinquance révélée. Les résultats révèlent que les différences selon le sexe sont demeurées constantes entre 1967 et 1977, qu'elles sont néanmoins présentes à travers les délits spécifiques et les mesures plus globales de la délin-quance.…”