ABSTRACT
In 1976 Raymond Eve and I published an analysis of gender differences in self-reported delinquency, observing that the survey data provided considerable support for sociological explanations of differences between males and females. In addition to variations in gender differences by offense, over time and among subgroups, we reported greater similarity by gender when measures of social relationships, activities and beliefs were controlled. We concluded that article with the following statement:
The nature of relationships with other people, institutions, and belief systems dwarfs the importance of sex as a variable in the explanation of delinquency and accounts for a goodly proportion of its contribution to delinquency. Coupled with the gradual decline in differences over time as well as cultural and subcultural variations there does appear to be adequate reason for accepting sociological interpretations as ‘infinitely more persuasive’ than most nonsociological ones. (Jensen and Eve 1976: 446)
