Abstract:
A comprehensive literature review indicated that there is a dearth of research
focusing on female youth sex offenders and even less is known about the
perceptions of female youth sex offenders regarding the factors that contributed to
their offending. This study explores the perceptions of female youth sex offenders
regarding their reasons for offending. The female youth sex offenders in this study
indicated that various factors as discussed below contributed to their offending.
The empirical findings of this study confirmed that female youth sex offenders are of
the opinion that certain problems within their families possibly contributed to their
offending behaviour. Some of these characteristics include factors such as divorce,
poor parenting skills, domestic violence, substance abuse and lack of basic care and
safety, just to mention a few. Female youth sex offenders’ lack of assertiveness, low
self-esteem and identity issues were other factors that most probably contributed to
their sexual offending. When taking into account that the majority of the participants’
parents were unemployed, poverty was another factor that most likely played a
contributory role. Due to poverty in the household some of these youth were forced to
relocate to Girls’ Homes, change schools or drop out of school. In order to curb
female youth sex offending one would need to address these factors in a
multidisciplinary and holistic manner. This study reports an in-depth qualitative
understanding of the perceptions of female youth sex offenders regarding factors that
contributed to their offending. In addition the last objective of this study will be the
formulation of recommendations to address female youth sex offending more
effectively.
