FEMALE-FEMALE CRIMINAL-ASSAULT - AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE

Three explanations of female-female aggression drawn from feminist evo lutionary positions are described and tested using a Massachusetts sta tewide criminal data base: (I) Female-female aggression is diminished where state benefits provide a source of resource provision as an alte rnative to dependence upon males (reflected in a negative correlation with AFDC); (2) Female-female aggression indicates competition for res ource-rich males (reflected in a positive correlation with female bias ed sex-ratios and high male unemployment); (3) Female-female aggressio n is a function of female destitution that results in economic depende nce upon males (reflected in a positive correlation with female unempl oyment and AFDC receipt). Multiple regression analysis of the female-f emale assault rate onto ecological measures of sex ratio, unemployment , and welfare receipt supports this last hypothesis. The authors discu ss how the feminization of poverty carries implications not only for p roperty crime (as emphasized by mainstream feminist theory), but also for assault.