| Over the last few decades, there has been ongoing debate among researchers that compares and contrasts male and female criminality. While some theorists contend that female offending has not changed as drastically as arrest rates indicate, others point to a future where female offending will equal or exceed that of their male counterparts. Using the National Youth Survey Family Study (NYSFS), this study examines the changes between male and female levels of delinquency across time by using the original NYSFS respondents and their offspring. Findings indicate that despite the continued gender gap in overall delinquency, male offending rates have declined faster than female rates. The study then focuses on correlates of offending by testing an integrated theory. Both juvenile and young adult males and females from different generations are examined and results point to the continued usefulness of specific components of the integrated theory. The study also offers a better understanding of how modern juveniles and young adults have changed, and how these changes should be reflected in current policies and programming.;KEY WORDS: Female offending, male offending, social learning theory, control theory, strain theory, integrated theory, intergenerational... |
