JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE FEMALE SEX ROLE - THE FAMILY COURT AND THE FEMALE DELINQUENT

• NCJ Number: 12610
• Journal: ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1973) Pages: 51-69
• Author(s): M CHESNEY-LIND
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 19 pages
• Corporate Author: University of California, Berkeley
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN EXAMINATION OF HONOLULU JUVENILE COURT CASE RECORDS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE COURT SEXUALIZES FEMALE OFFENSES AND MORE SERIOUSLY SANCTIONS FEMALES IN THIS CATEGORY.

Abstract

WHEN A COURT PLACES SPECIFIC VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SEX-ROLE OR SEXUAL OFFENSES, IT CAN BE SAID TO SEXUALIZE FEMALE OFFENSES. FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF RECENT LITERATURE, THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS SOCIETY HAS FOR ADOLESCENT MALES AND FEMALES REGARDING SEXUAL BEHAVIOR. THE DATA FOR THIS STUDY COMES FROM CASE RECORDS OF ADOLESCENTS REFERRED TO THE HONOLULU JUVENILE COURT DURING THE YEARS 1929-1930, 1939-1940, 1950 AND 1954-1964. THE DATA SEEM TO SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE COURT SEXUALIZES FEMALE OFFENSES AND MORE SEVERELY SANCTIONS FEMALES IN THIS CATEGORY. EVIDENCE IS SUGGESTED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL ADMINISTRATION OF PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, DIFFERENTIAL DETENTION POLICIES, AND VARIANCE BETWEEN OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL (SELF-REPORT) VERSIONS OF FEMALE DELINQUENCY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)