Gender Effects Along the Juvenile Justice System

Abstract

This article provides an example of the unequal outcomes generated by humans interacting in a gendered organizational context. Acker's concept of gendered institutions is applied to a juvenile justice program. Using data from court records and program files, official outcomes for boys and girls are compared. Findings indicate that variation in the level of program implementation produced an increase, rather than a decrease, in the odds of female youth being charged with a new offense. They also indicate that girls who committed a new offense were much more likely than comparable boys to be returned to residential treatment, even when controlling for the severity of their reoffense. Taken together, these findings illustrate the reproduction of gender inequality consistent with operations of a gendered organization.