‘I’m the only chick I know who can burn one by herself:’ The Gendered Social Organization of Rural Methamphetamine Markets

• In Event: Women, Crime and Justice: Gendered Experiences and Perceptions

Abstract

The distribution of methamphetamine differs from that of other illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin because of the fact that it can be produced locally using legal substances. This unique characteristic of the methamphetamine economy offers the possibility of distinct roles for women vis-à-vis the drug’s production and distribution. Yet, to date, little research has examined the gendered organizational structure of the illicit methamphetamine economy and, specifically, the opportunities afforded women within the market. Drawing from qualitative interviews with 40 women methamphetamine users in Missouri, we explore women’s participation in the production and distribution of methamphetamine. We focus specifically on women’s routes of entrée into the market, their understanding of how gender structures experiences within the methamphetamine economy, and the degree to which they operate independently or remain restricted within a broader male-dominated criminal network.

Authors

• Jody Miller, Rutgers University

• Kristin Carbone-Lopez, University of Missouri - St. Louis