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Gender differences in victimization risk: exploring the role of deviant lifestyles
Heather Zaykowski1, Whitney D Gunter
1Department of Sociology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125-3393, USA. heather.zaykowski@umb.edu
Violence and Victims
|June 15, 2013
Summary
Gender significantly impacts victimization risk, but explanations are lacking. This study found violent behavior increases risk for both males and females, though not longitudinally, highlighting the need for gender-specific, longitudinal research on victimization.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Sociology
- Victimology
Background:
- Gender is a known predictor of victimization, yet explanations for these differences remain underexplored.
- The role of offending and deviant behaviors in shaping victimization risk for males and females requires further investigation.
- Violent behavior is strongly linked to victimization risk, with males exhibiting higher offending rates than females.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how deviant lifestyles influence victimization risk across genders.
- To analyze the relationship between offending behaviors and violent victimization, including repeat victimization.
- To differentiate the impact of deviant lifestyles on victimization risk using cross-sectional and time-ordered models.
Main Methods:
- Application of cross-sectional models to assess immediate correlations between deviant lifestyles and victimization.
- Utilization of time-ordered models to investigate the temporal sequence between offending and victimization.
- Gender-specific analyses were conducted to understand differential effects on males and females.
Main Results:
- Violent behavior was found to increase the risk of violent victimization for both males and females in cross-sectional analyses.
- The association between violent behavior and victimization risk did not hold in the time-ordered model, suggesting complex temporal dynamics.
- Deviant lifestyles demonstrated a significant, albeit complex, relationship with victimization risk, varying by gender and temporal perspective.
Conclusions:
- Future research should incorporate longitudinal data to better understand the dynamic relationship between offending and victimization.
- Gender-specific analyses are crucial for developing effective crime prevention and victim support policies.
- Understanding the interplay of deviant lifestyles, gender, and victimization timing is essential for theoretical advancement and practical interventions.
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