Delinquency In Youth, Gender Disparities And Crime

Ishaan Deepak Joshi, MIT-WPU, Faculty of Law

ABSTRACT

The topic of crime and gender is a subject of academic inquiry and analysis. One of the most robust and enduring findings in the field of criminology is the substantial disparity between the rates of criminal involvement and juvenile delinquency exhibited by females compared to males. The gender disparity in the commission of illegal activities is ascertained through the analysis of various sources of data, including records of arrests, convictions, self-reported criminal behaviour, and reports from victims regarding the identity of the perpetrators. Furthermore, it is evident that this phenomenon is present in various countries and has persisted throughout different periods. However, prior to the 1980s, there was a lack of significant focus on gender disparities in criminal behaviour. During the 1970s, feminist scholars within the field of criminology brought forth critical perspectives that highlighted the marginalisation and disregard of women. Since then, there has been an observable inclination towards a heightened consideration of the matter pertaining to female involvement in criminal activities, as well as the disparity between genders in relation to crime and delinquency.