Sex Role Ideology and Delinquency

This article explores the hypothesis that the great difference between rates of delinquency and criminality of males versus females results from differences in sex roles promulgated by the culture. Here, “sex role” is conceptualized as an ideology about the behavior proper for members of a gender category, and is measured by two questionnaire scales: The Villemez-Touhey Index and a new College Sex Role Index. A survey incorporating these scales and a number of self-report delinquency questions was administered to students at the University of Washington, 498 women and 364 men. Results showed no influence of sex role ideology on deviant behavior among men, and only a very fragmentary influence among women. The Villemez-Touhey Index did correlate with use of alcohol and drugs and with sexual behavior. It is suggested that “sex role” refers to a cluster of phenomena, rather than being a unitary concept, and that the influence of social bonds or organizations is required to render any part of it salient for crime and delinquent behavior.