Black Female Offenders Research Articles

Gender expectations and their impact on black female offenders and victims

The characterizations of females presented by early theorists were based on an image of the ideal woman that was specific to upper class white women. Literature in the areas of female crime and and the victimization of females has supported the view that females who did not live up to these expectations were denied preferential treatment. This article hypothesizes that the gender role expectations of black females differ significantly from those of white females. These race-specific expectations are identified. Although these myths have not received empirical support, the characterizations remain. It is further argued that these misconceptions concerning the black female have been used as justifications for denying her equal treatment.

AN ANALYSIS OF SERIOUS CRIME BY YOUNG BLACK WOMEN*

This research focuses on a relatively unexplored phenomenon—black female juvenile offenders. Both theoretical and research work are weak or nonexistent regarding these offenders. This paper seeks to fill some of these gaps. In addition, this research effort draws on a source of data that has in frequently been adapted to study offenders, National Crime Survey (NCS) victimization data. Utilizing NCS data from 1973 through 1981, a comparative analysis of NCS rates of juvenile offenses by black females, black males, white females, and white males is presented and discussed. A number of propositions which are found in the literature regarding black female offenders are examined. Trends in offending by black females compared with trends for other age‐race‐sex subgroups are also presented and analyzed. Finally, some implications for future theoretical and research efforts are presented