Exploring the relationship between women's criminal behavior as eviden
ced in violence, type of crime, prior criminal history, and the fulfil
lment of traditional female roles delineated by marital status, employ
ment status, or presence of children in the home of the woman was base
d on the evaluation of 141 female inmates, which indicated a limited r
elationship between fulfilling traditional female roles and the nature
of female criminal activity. Married and previously married subjects
tended to be involved primarily with murder and secondarily with theft
. Single subjects were involved primarily with theft and secondarily i
nvolved with robbery. Employed subjects were more likely to be involve
d with theft and nonviolent crime. Unemployed subjects were more likel
y to be involved in violent crimes.