Juvenile Delinquency Critical Theory Journal

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Chapter 6 introduces us to three different Critical theories that have been used to understand and address delinquency and crime. While these three theories (Labeling, Conflict and Feminist theories) highlight different factors related to delinquency, an underlying similarity among these theories is a focus on power and social control, as well as the need to transform systems of injustice and oppression. The critical perspectives reviewed in this chapter, encourage, and challenge us to consider how power operates in the creation of who is labeled and what is labeled as delinquent, how power, class and race affect the creation of delinquency and the social control applied to juveniles who are deemed delinquent, and finally how the gendered violence experienced by girls under a patriarchal society should be at the center of analysis to fully understand girls’ delinquency.

For Journal 4, discuss one critical theory (Labeling, Conflict, or Feminist theory) that helps you understand large-scale factors that impact juvenile delinquency. You may relate it to your personal experience with delinquency (Journal 3), consider how power disparities influence who and what is considered delinquent, and how social control is exercised on youth. Be sure to engage with elements of the theory you choose.