Sarah Jane Brubaker

A Closer Look at the Individual and Joint Effects of Gender and Race on Juvenile Justice Decision Making

Using the intersectional perspective and results from prior research, the individual and combination relationships of gender and race with juvenile justice decision making are examined in one jurisdiction in a Midwestern state. Results reveal that both gender and race, individually and jointly, influence case outcomes net relevant legal and extralegal considerations. These relationships involve receiving both more severe and more lenient outcomes and point to the variable effects of gender and race in juvenile justice proceedings.

‘Pack a more powerful punch’ and ‘lay the pipe’: erectile enhancement discourse as a body project for masculinity

In this article, we analyze erectile enhancement as a postmodern body project that (re)codes hegemonic masculinity through new means. Erectile enhancement Internet ads create a text of masculinity through constructing a crisis of masculinity and selling the solution. The crisis is loss of power, control and the ability to dominate; the solution is a larger and more powerful penis that will give men back their sense of manhood. Although the erectile enhancement discourse suggests new ways of constructing masculinity – through consumption and an elevated importance of the body in gender identity – the ads reassert hegemonic ideals, i.e. the othering of and domination over women and phallocentrism.

Urban African American Girls at Risk: An Exploratory Study of Service Needs and Provision

Although much has been gained from efforts to document and improve upon race and gender bias within the juvenile justice system, research continues to overlook the importance of service provision, particularly in terms of race and gender differences and inequities. Research focusing on urban African American girls, in particular, remains sparse. This article contributes to these neglected areas by presenting findings from an exploratory, qualitative study of service providers in a southeastern city in the United States. The findings are based on providers’ perceptions of the major problems and needs of the African American girls they serve, as well as of the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of the programs and services they provide.

Gender, Race, and Juvenile Court Outcomes: An Examination of Status Offenders

The intersectionality perspective suggests that the treatment of females and minority youth may be based on one’s social location in terms of oppression and privilege. Applying this perspective to juvenile court outcomes and based on prior research, the current study attempts to understand the individual and joint effects of gender and race on the treatment of status offenders at two decision-making stages of the juvenile justice system. Results from juvenile court referrals in two mid-Atlantic states indicate that gender and race, both individually and in combination, impact case outcomes in terms of both severity and leniency. While results are not always in the anticipated direction, the findings reveal that gender and race still matter in the decision to receive a court referral at intake and whether to adjudicate status offenders.

Does the Gender of the Intake Probation Officer Contextualize the Treatment of Black Youth

The presence of race differentials in case outcomes has recently been explained by a focus on the characteristics of the decision makers within the context of the interplay between discretion, a reliance on stereotyping, and the perceptions of decision makers. We continue this line of inquiry by assessing what effects the gender of the intake officer may have in understanding the treatment of male youth. Using data from juvenile court records within a single juvenile court jurisdiction, the research is guided by two general questions. Do female and male officers make similar intake decisions once relevant legal and extralegal considerations related to the youth are controlled? Do female and male officers rely on similar legal and extralegal considerations and give equal weight to those considerations when making intake decisions? The results from our inquiry have implications for broadening the scope of the contexts of intake juvenile justice decision making, especially in terms of how the characteristics of decision makers influence case outcomes. The implications of the results may also better inform efforts that address the equitable treatment of youth in the juvenile justice system.

Direct and Indirect Messages African American Women Receive From Their Familial Networks About Intimate Relationships and Sex: The Intersecting Influence of Race, Gender, and Class

This qualitative study examined the sexual socialization experienced by emerging adult, African American women, ages 18 to 26 years, who received services at a sexually transmitted infection clinic. Data obtained from in-depth interviews revealed that women received information about sex and relationships from three primary sources: women of the previous generation, who emphasized relationship quality, contraception and the consequences of sex; partner qualities, and role responsibilities; same-generation women, whose messages addressed relationship quality and the consequences of sex and male family members, who emphasized men’s treatment of women and sexual issues. Women described both direct and indirect (observed) messages, as well as differences and similarities in messages. The analysis focused on the content of these messages, and the influence of race, class, gender, and age in the socialization experience.

The Impact of Increased State Regulation of Campus Sexual Assault Practices: Perspectives of Campus Personnel

ABSTRACT Seeking to improve university accountability and compliance with federal mandates, states are considering new reforms including mandating reporting of campus sexual assault allegations. These new policies remain an empirical “black box.” To address these gaps, the current exploratory study draws upon a recent survey that examines the extent of awareness, perceptions, concerns, and policy practices of victim advocates and other personnel concerning new legislation. Virginia is chosen as the state for this case study given its recent implementation of a controversial mandated reporting law, as well as other initiatives, across institutions of higher education. Findings suggest that campus personnel are aware and largely supportive of the new reforms, but they also share concerns. Implications for research and policy development are discussed.

Sexual Assault in the Ivory Tower: Public Opinion on University Accountability and Mandatory Reporting:

Highly publicized college sex crimes have recently captured public and policy attention. In response, greater discussion has turned to institutional accountability and controversial reforms such as mandatory reporting (MR). No study to date has measured public perceptions of campus sex assault procedures, however. This omission is notable because public opinion can directly and indirectly shape crime policy and because the topic has become increasingly politicized. Drawing on a 2015 poll of Virginia residents, this study evaluates views about campus sexual assault policy. Results indicate that two thirds of the public feel universities can effectively respond to sex crime and a large majority favors MR. Some differences in public opinion are evident. Research and policy implications are discussed.

Retraction: Urban African American Girls at Risk: An Exploratory Study of Service Needs and Provision

Brubaker, S. J., & Fox, K.C., (2010) Urban African American girls at risk: An exploratory study of service needs and provision. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice. 8(2), 122-137. Original DOI: 10.1177/1541204009361179. This article has been retracted due to the republishing of this article in the July 2010 issue of Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 8(3). The July issue will be a special issue titled Issues in Race and Social Control, dedicated to the author of the article, Kristan C. Fox. Please find the republished article now in Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice 8(3), 250-265, DOI: 10.1177/1541204010376319.

Re-examining the meanings of childbirth: Beyond gender and the “Natural” versus “Medical” dichotomy

Historically, a major focus of womens health research has been on the increasing medicalization of “natural” reproductive processes, with early feminist scholarship in this area largely critical of this trend. Recently, feminist scholars have begun to explore the various ways that women actually experience medicalization. We suggest that current feminist scholarship on medicalization and childbirth remains limited in two ways: (1) much of this research still focuses on privileged women and neglects the experiences of women at various social locations, as well as how oppression and privilege shape those experiences and (2) existing literature does not operationalize what medicalization or “natural” reproductive processes mean for individual women. More specifically, feminist scholars have not investigated systematically how diverse women define and experience their births within the context of a taken-for-granted definitional dichotomy of “natural” versus “medical” birth that characterizes much of the classic and contemporary feminist literature. In this chapter, we explore womens different discussions of “natural” birth and, by default, learn about their definitions of medicalization as well. Drawing from a critical, comparative analysis of qualitative, empirical data gathered from three different groups of childbearing women in two studies – that is, middle-class Caucasian adult women birthing in a hospital setting, middle-class Caucasian adult women birthing in a birthing center setting, and poor African American teen mothers birthing in a hospital setting – we propose a new methodological and conceptual framework for re-examining the meanings of “natural” versus “medical” birth experiences and pushing beyond a strictly gender-based analysis.