Understanding The Role of Gender in Adulthood and Desistance

• In Event: Poster Session 2

Abstract

Young adults maturing into emerging adulthood often rely on adult roles such as being a parent or a spouse to aid in their full transition into adulthood. Specifically, this can help desisting young adults as these "hooks for change" facilitate maturation and pull desisting young adults away from criminal activity (Giordano et al. 2002; 2007). These adult roles often have a gendered element to them with expectations tied to roles like "father" and "mother" varying for men versus women. Understanding how criminal justice-involved young adults engage and navigate their desistance process within their perception and understanding of their gender identity can be useful in aiding these young adults to maintain their desistance. Life-story, narrative interviews (n = 14) were conducted with criminal justice-involved young adults and analyzed utilizing an inductive approach. Preliminary findings will be discussed.

Authors

• Madeline Steward, Kent State University

• Elias Nader, Kent State University