The intersection of defendant gender and racialisation in a case of child neglect

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of defendant gender (man/woman) and racialisation (Indigenous/White) on Canadian mock jurors’ verdicts in a case of parent-perpetrated child neglect. The potential intensified negative consequences against Indigenous women, produced by the intersectionality of gender and racialisation, were of particular interest. Four hundred and one participants read a mock trial transcript, provided verdicts on two charges, and rated the defendant on a variety of adjectives. Logistic regressions revealed mock jurors were not influenced by the defendant’s gender or the interaction between the defendant’s gender and racialisation. Racialisation had an unpredicted influence, with an Indigenous defendant receiving fewer guilty verdicts. The adjective ratings moderated the effect of gender on verdicts, but not racialisation. Mock jurors were less likely to find a woman guilty when they held positive impressions of her. This study contributes to previous literature that suggests jurors’ verdicts may be influenced by extralegal factors.