Gendered Pathways to Crime: Understanding Youth Responses to Violence in Pakistan

Abstract

This qualitative study investigates how various forms of violence exposure influence youth criminality in Lahore, Pakistan, with a central focus on gender-related differences. The study draws on in-depth interviews with 20 incarcerated young offenders (10 males and 10 females) from the Central Prison in Lahore who had experienced violence and later engaged in criminal behavior. Thematic analysis reveals distinct gendered pathways: male participants often responded to community violence through external aggression and criminal peer group involvement, while female participants frequently internalized family violence, leading to emotionally driven crimes. Media violence influenced both genders differently acting as a script for masculine identity among males and deepening psychological vulnerability among females. The study highlights the moderating role of gender in translating violent experiences into specific criminal behaviors. Findings call for gender-responsive rehabilitation programs that address the lived realities and social roles of male and female offenders.

Keywords: Gender, Violence, Criminality, Incarcerated Youth, Community Violence, Family Violence, Media Influence, Lahore, Pakistan