Recent changes in the gender patterning of crime are examined using Uniform Crime Report data from 1953 to 1977. A crucial expectation based on opportunity theory -- that of increasingly similar M-F criminal profiles as opportunities for Fs expand -- is not supported by the data. Age-specific analysis suggests the possibility that changed gender identity patterns provide an equally plausible account of historical trends in F criminality. 5 Tables. HA.
An exploration of self-concept in terms of the identity patterns & self-evaluation of the 2 groups is presented. Bilingual interviewers gathered the data through extensive interviews with 4 family members of each family chosen; 85 families in the Yakima Valley, Wash. The migrant population was selected from labor camps in the area, the 'settled' from 3 small towns with a substantial & identifiable Mexican American population. The R's were categorized as Mexican American, family income under $5,000; father, mother, 10-13 year old child, & a 14-18 year old. Kuhn & McPartland's 20 Statements Test was used to get at the self-attitudes. The TST was modified in that only 10 statements were to be given to the question, "Who am I?," & the interviewer was asked to write down the statements as given by the R's. Identity patterns indicated that poor Mexican Americans tended to locate themselves most frequently in the structural identities provided by society: family, gender, & work for adults, with family consistently the highest; children mentioned peer references, abstract identifications, & interest & activities, with the most frequently mentioned of these being gender. Differences between parents were small: mothers mentioning family identities somewhat more frequently, while fathers referred to their work or occupational role. When the 2 groups, migrant & settled, were compared for differences in identity patterns the findings showed: (1) Migrants appear to be more firmly rooted in structural sources of identity stemming from their cultural heritage, perhaps reflecting the psychological consequences of acculturation which is probably greater for the settled p in general a more favorable view of themselves & with reference to a sense of moral worth, competence, self-determination, altruism. Differential frames of reference or comparison levels were offered as an explanation. (2) Religion, family, & name was the most important identity for migrant children as compared to gender for settled children. Despite these differences there were a number of similarities noted between the migrant & settled groups: the most important source of institutional & categorical self-moorings was the family, for both adults & children the most salient family bond is that of parent-child, & ethnic identity as of low importance compared to other identities such as gender or religion. 6 Tables. E. Loomis.
