Mixed-sex peer groups and violent delinquency: understanding the separate and combined influence of mixed-sex peer groups, sex, and romance on violent delinquency
Prior studies suggest peer group sex composition is an important correlate of delinquency, but these studies often conflate the influence of other-sex peers with that of romantic and intimate partners. This research seeks to understand the influence of other-sex peers as separate from, but related t...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2023
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| In: |
Journal of crime and justice
Year: 2023, Volume: 46, Issue: 5, Pages: 607-626 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Keywords: |
| Summary: | Prior studies suggest peer group sex composition is an important correlate of delinquency, but these studies often conflate the influence of other-sex peers with that of romantic and intimate partners. This research seeks to understand the influence of other-sex peers as separate from, but related to, romantic activity and sexual debut. I find that while sexual and romantic activity predict mixed-sex peer group (MSPG) membership, they do not fully explain the positive relationship between MSPG membership and violent delinquency. Guided by literature on gender socialization and the institutionalization of heteronormativity, I argue this result can be explained as the result of a heteronormative culture that problematizes platonic, other-sex interactions and forces adolescents to maintain other-sex friendships in non-surveilled spaces. |
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| ISSN: | 2158-9119 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0735648X.2023.2205161 |