Are Girls More Difficult to Work With? Youth Workers' Perspectives in Juvenile Justice and Related Areas

Abstract

This research explored the frequently heard, but virtually unexamined, comment in juvenile justice practice that “girls are more difficult to work with.” The qualitative methodology entailed interviews with youth workers in juvenile justice and related programs in Victoria, Australia. Virtually all interviewees concurred with the judgment. Explanations were in terms of perceived differences in the complexity of the problems involved and in the behavior of young men and women. The relatively small number of young women affected both the extent of workers' experiences with and the range of services available to young women. The degree to which workers' assessments reflected gendered assumptions, or actual differences in behavior, could not be determined by this research. Nevertheless, the extent and intensity of this understanding revealed in this research indicates the need for further research so that its potential ramifications can be identified and addressed in juvenile justice policy developments.