Women, Social Bonds, and Desistance

• In Event: Gender and Crime: Contemporary Theoretical Perspectives

Abstract

The vast majority of research dedicated to the topic of desistance from crime has drawn on male samples. While there have been important studies that have investigated the process of desistance from crime among women, there has been limited work comparing and synthesizing this knowledge base across genders. This paper reviews the body of research on the process of desistance from crime among women. It explores the similarities and differences in the desistance processes of men and women and examines the role of gender in the formation of social bonds and desistance narratives. We also assess the influence of gender socialization on external and internal mechanisms involved in the process of desistance from crime.

Authors

• Katheryne Pugliese, John Jay College of Criminal Justice / CUNY Graduate Center

• Lila Kazemian, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY

• Alex R. Piquero, U.S. Department of Justice