Final answer:
Lee Bowker and Malcolm Klein believe that the major determinants of gang membership and juvenile delinquency among women and girls in urban ghettos are the impact of racism, sexism, poverty, and limited opportunity structures. Social disorganization theory supports this view, emphasizing the role of social factors and environmental circumstances in influencing criminal behavior over personality traits or individual relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Lee Bowker and Malcolm Klein, the major role in determining the gang membership and juvenile delinquency of women and girls in urban ghettos is played by the impact of racism, sexism, poverty, and limited opportunity structures (C). This assessment is aligned with social disorganization theory, which posits that broad social factors, such as poverty, income inequality, lack of opportunity, and unstable living conditions contribute to a higher propensity for criminal behavior. As functional community structures break down, individuals, including women and girls, may turn to gangs as a surrogate for community, leading to higher rates of delinquency.
Multiple studies have underscored the influence of socio-economic conditions on crime, indicating that as these adverse conditions persist—coupled with weak social ties and the absence of social control—crime rates can be expected to rise in such neighborhoods. The environmental circumstances surrounding individuals play a significant role in the likelihood of their involvement with criminal activities, more so than individual personality traits or interpersonal relations. Thus, addressing these systemic issues might significantly aid in reducing gang membership and juvenile delinquency.