Evaluating contextual patterns of delinquency: Gender-based differences

Prior criminological research on gender-based differences in offending has focused on comparisons of offense frequency and offending patterns. Such research has shown that males offend more frequently than females, but has failed to clarify the distinctiveness of the patterns or the context of that offending. This study analyzes the distinctive context of gender-based offending patterns. The analysis is accomplished by examining differences in offense patterns across specific types of crime. Using data from the National Youth Survey, the authors analyze the offending patterns of 1,543 youths for offenses ranging from truancy to serious assault. The findings of this study show that the more serious the offense, the greater the differences by gender in the context of offending. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.