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Naming Oneself Criminal: Gender Difference in Offenders' Identity Negotiation

NCJ Number
209457
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 49 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 194-209
Author(s)
Brenda Geiger; Michael Fischer
Date Published
April 2005
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study compared male and female offenders on the ability to negotiate positive identities after having the following pejorative labels placed on them: criminal, prostitute, drug dealer, and incompetent parent.
Abstract
Naming offenders criminal, prostitute, drug dealer, or incompetent parent places deviant identities on offenders. The current qualitative research was designed to discover whether gender differences were present in offenders’ ability to negotiate positive self-identities after these pejorative labels have been placed on them. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight male and eight female offenders of Sepharadic origin, an Israeli minority group; the entire sample came from broken or dysfunctional and economically deprived homes. Analysis of the interviews was based on Glaser and Strauss’s (1967) constant comparative method. The findings did reveal distinct gender differences in the ability to negotiate identity following pejorative labeling. Specifically, the findings revealed that males were better able to justify or resist stigmatizing labels and form a favorable identity. Females, on the other hand, were able to justify all stigmatizing labels with the exception of incompetent mother. Females’ inability to resist this label resulted in apathy, anomie, and lack of confidence in their ability to contribute to society. The findings suggest that rehabilitation efforts should focus on building female offenders’ personal strengths while harnessing the personal strengths of male offenders into lawful pursuits. References

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