Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Department

Sociology

Additional Departmental Affiliation

Psychology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The intersection of gender, crime, and victimization is a critical area of study within criminology, particularly as it relates to understanding the differing pathways men and women take into criminal behavior. Historically, crime statistics have shown a significant male predominance, particularly in violent offenses. Feminist criminology has played an essential role in reframing the narrative around gender and crime, emphasizing the need to examine the gender pathways that shape male and female experiences differently. While men may employ violence more overtly, women often rely on more subtle strategies to navigate criminal activities, avoiding physical confrontation when possible. Feminist criminologists argue that this dynamic reflects broader social structures governing how gender is performed in both legal and illegal activities.

Research revolving around gender and crime is especially important when looking at adolescent substance use because the influence of gender becomes readily apparent and prominent. For this project, data from the Michigan Alcohol and Other Drugs School Survey were utilized. This survey includes 8th, 10th and 12th graders in different schools assessing their experiences with victimization and their engagement with substances. The research in this paper was aimed at examining whether these variables had a relationship, and whether that relationship was different across genders. To assess this, a gamma analysis was run comparing all victimization variables with all delinquency variables. This provided a visualization of the relationships and separated the results by gender.

Advisor(s) or Committee Chair

Justin Smith, Ph.D.

Disciplines

Criminology | Psychology | Sociology

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