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Family Structure as a Source of Female and Male Homicide in the United States

Washington State University, Pullman, schwartj{at}wsu.edu

Recent advances in the ecology of crime have identified robust family structure effects on homicide but have not yet comprehensively explored these macro-level effects on cross-community variation in female homicide rates. The author addresses this omission by using seemingly unrelated regression techniques to comparatively assess family and other structural covariates of female and male homicide across 1,600 counties. Family structure is a robust predictor of cross-community differences in both female and male homicide levels, though it is more consequential for male rates of homicide. In addition, for both sexes, family structure exerts a stronger influence than structural disadvantage or other ecological predictors. The author concludes that the sources of female and male homicide offending overlap considerably, yet attention to gender-specific causal factors is also warranted.

Key Words: community structure • crime rates • female-headed households • female offenders • sex differences • violence

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