Sex-Role Orientation among Incarcerated Women

Abstract

This study of 120 women inmates of a state prison showed that sex-role orientation was related to the type of offence committed by women but, contrary to the hypothesis about the “new” female offender, violent offenders were more traditionally feminine than financial and drug-related offenders. Drug offenders had high rates of undifferentiated ratings. Women became more traditionally masculine or feminine with length of incarceration. Women who had children were more likely to score as traditionally feminine.