SINCE THE EARLY 1960'S, ARRESTS OF ADULT AND JUVENILE FEMALES FOR SUCH MAJOR CRIMES AS BURGLARY, ROBBERY, LARCENY, AND EMBEZZLEMENT HAVE SKYROCKETED. UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS FOR 1960 THROUGH 1972 SHOW THAT THE ARREST RATE FOR ADULT FEMALES HAS RISEN NEARLY THREE TIMES FASTER THAN THAT FOR MALES. MORE AND MORE ADOLESCENT FEMALES ARE PARTICIPATING IN GANG ACTIVITY AND IN MUGGINGS, BURGLARIES, AND EXTORTION RINGS. BECAUSE MOST FEMALE OFFENDERS DO NOT SEEM TO SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S LIBERATION MOVEMENT, PRISON ADMINISTRATORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES CONCLUDE THAT THE MOVEMENT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE RISE IN FEMALE CRIME. BUT FEMINISM--AS IT IS MANIFESTED IN WOMEN'S BELIEF THAT THEY HAVE MORE OPTIONS, CAN CHANGE THEIR LIVES, AND CAN IMPROVE THEIR ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES--PERTAINS EVEN TO THOSE WHO MAY DENY ANY SYMPATHY WITH THE FORMAL MOVEMENT. IT APPLIES TO WOMEN WHO HAVE ROBBED THEIR FIRST BANK OR SNATCHED THEIR FIRST PURSE, AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE CONCLUDED THAT PROSTITUTION AND SHOPLIFTING, THE TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL DOMAINS OF FEMALES, ARE BENEATH THEIR DIGNITY AND ABILITY. THAT FEMALE OFFENDERS ONCE RESORTED ONLY TO PETTY SOCIAL GAMBITS AND PETTY CRIMES REFLECTED THE LIMITATIONS OF THEIR STATUS, NOT THE EXTENT OF THEIR ASPIRATIONS. ARMED WITH OPPORTUNITIES ONCE RESERVED FOR MEN, WOMEN ARE STRIVING FOR STATUS IN CRIMINAL AS WELL AS LEGAL PURSUITS. (LKM)