This paper reports on two studies examining vehicle theft offenders, driving and gender identity. Study One, a longitudinal study, examined the prevalence of vehicle theft in a representative adolescent cohort and their subsequent novice driver offence history. Results indicated that adolescent males were more likely than adolescent females to report vehicle theft. Adolescent males were also more likely to incur drink driving and dangerous driving offences as novice drivers. Study Two compared the gender identities of adolescent offenders’ and non-offenders. A new scale, the Doing Masculinity Composite Scale was developed to identify the specific behaviours adolescent males perceived as necessary to “do masculinity”. Overall adolescent male offenders and non-offenders were similar in the behaviours they endorsed as “doing masculinity”. Importantly both groups of adolescent males endorsed having a car and being able to drive as core masculine defining behaviours. Results indicate that adolescent males who engage in vehicle theft continue their risky driving behaviour into the novice driver period. It is also suggested that cars and driving hold particular importance to young males just about to enter the driving system. It is suggested that the gendered associations between adolescent males and cars is an overlooked area in relation to licensure and road safety education. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E214057. Printed volume contains peer-reviewed papers. CD-ROM contains submitted papers.
Abstract