Race, Father‐absence, and Female Delinquency

Discussions of the influence of father‐absence on delinquency often show special concern/or the relatively high rate of father‐absence among black Americans. However, for the four delinquent offenses studied. father‐absence had detrimental effects only on whites. especially girls. The only significant effect among black girls was favorable lo the father‐absent girls. Further, contrary to Dates on and Scarpitti (1975). parental control has similar effects on delinquency and on the relationship between father‐absence and delinquency for blacks and whites. It appears that policies which reduce the stigma of father‐absence for white girls are more likely to succeed in reducing delinquency due to father‐absence than policies of economic improvement .