청소년 비행에 미치는 권력작용의 효과 : 성과 계급을 중심으로 = (The) effect of power relations on delinquency

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

1. Introduction

The purpose of this study is to explore the causes and process of juvenile delinquency in terms of the interaction between gender difference and power relations. Especially, this study concerns with "the power relations of social class" as the social foundation differential gender distribution of juvenile delinquency. The major effort of this study is to investigate the ways in which the power relations of social class are enmeshed into socialization process. In other words, the influence which the power relations exert on the relationship between gender and delinquency via the socialization in family is to be critically and empirically examined.

The major questions of this study are as follows; what is the relationship between the power relations of social class and delinquency and the relationship between gender and delinquency; how the relationship between gender and delinquency varies by the power relations; how much the patterns in the socialization are different by the gender and power relations, and what effect theses patterns have the influences of the power relations that are responsible for gender difference in
delinquency; what effect the process and function of power control has on the relations. between gender and delinquency.

2. Theoretical Background

Two issues are mainly dealt with by this study in its attempt to explain the social foundation of gender difference and the effect of social class in delinquency. The first issue is about the process in which gender differences are socially formed, and the other is about the relational dynamics of social class. Two processes are explored in terms of the power relations.

As a basis for research, a theory to be tested in this study has been developed from two sources (1) a power-control theory that joins two strong theoretical traditions in criminology, namely, the macrostructural conflict ideas of both Marx and Dahrendorf and the elements of social control theory as they apply to microsocial examination of family context, (2) it is combined with gender role socialization theory that explains the social formation of gender difference in the cultural context. Both two theories lead us to consider the conditions under which adolescents are likely to deviate from social norm. It assumed that the freedom to deviate is directly and positively related to power relations, in that males are freer to deviate than females and that males of the higher social classes are the most likely to deviate. So far this study concerns with two kinds of relations of dominance: the power exercised by the head of household in relation to others in the workplace, namely, the class relation, and the power exercised by parents as a symbol gender relation. This research is a study dealing with how class based patterns of family relations produce a division of domestic social control, and through this process, differential involvement in delinquency, especially gender difference in delinquency.

3. Findings

(1) When the relationships between gender and class differences and delinquency are empirically examined, the results can be summarizes into three: 1) gender differentials in delinquency are clear in that male youths are much more likely to involve in delinquency that female counterparts, 2) social class differentials are salient in that youths from employer class are more likely to involve in delinquency that other youths, and 3) the interaction effects between gender and social class are also salient as gender differentials in employer class is bigger than that of the non-employer class. There results indicate that the power relations of social classes are important social foundations for the gender differentials. in juvenile delinquency.

Familial power relations between father and mother are also important social foundations for gender differentials in delinquency. According to the results, males youths raised in families of unequal power relations are likely to be self-indulgence in societal power and freedom and have strong emotional orientation to "masculinity (macho)", which are often said to be closely related to delinquent behavior. The results also indicate that gender differentials are greater when youths have experienced unequal familial power relations and at the same time are raised in families of employer class.

(2) Socialization practices in family are closely related to the power relation, and then have given rise to gender differential in delinquency. For instance, parents tend to provide supervision, attachment, discipline, and attitude of child-rearing in discriminating ways depending upon youths of gender and positions of power relations. The more severe concern to female children may help the understanding the reasons why female youths are less likely involved in delinquency. A fundamental instrumental-object relationship structure family-based relations of dominance. The two sides of this relationship are that mothers more than father are the instruments of familial controls and that daughters more than sons the objects of familial controls. This is the kind of relationship that a Marxist-Ferninist theory suggest is central to "the reproduction of order".

(3) Power relations in family and social class have noticeable effects on the formation of gender-role concept. The experience of discriminatory child-rearing practices tends to causes different behavioral dispositions and personality characteristics. The most important elements in gender-role concept with their effects on delinquency are shown to be "Sex-typed Masculinity (Macho)", "Gender-role Stereotype", and "Risk-Preference". Youths showing "sex-typed masculinity" and "gender-role stereotype" are significantly more likely to involve in delinquency than others. The effects of "risk-preference" are greatest than any other elements of gender-role concepts, as most of youths possessing greater so-called "Compulsive Masculinity" have committed delinquents acts. When power relations and gender are considered, the effects of gender-role concepts are different depending upon social class. The results show that youths who are from the employer class and possesses, "Compulsive Masculinity(Macho)" tend to commit more delinquent acts compared to other youths.

(4) This study has also tested what effects 'legal consciousness' (i. e. the favorable definition of delinquent behavior, the neutralization technics etc.) in connection with gender-role socialization have on the youths in delinquency. The findings indicate that the positive correlate between 'compulsive masculinity', 'risk preference', and 'a favorable definition of delinquent acts' be consistent to encourage in ways that are conducive to delinquent behavior among males youths, especially in the employer class.

As a conclusion, it is reported in this study that delinquent behavior is positively relates to the extent of power relations in the social class and to the gender differences. This findings suggest that power differentials in social class and unequal gender power distribution in family are very important social foundations for juvenile delinquency.