Towards Justice for Girls:

Feminist critics of American juvenile justice have often observed the presence of a sexual double standard. Young men, it seems, may explore their sexuality with impunity. The sexually active young women, however, is likely to be defined as “incorrigible” or “uncontrolled” and charged with the youthful crime of status offending. The plight and Australian girls charged with such offences is less well documented. This paper examines and contrasts American and Australian policies in relation to young women before the courts and finds strong parallels. Though the general trend in both countries had been towards greater parity to treatment of the sexes, there is evidence to suggest a recent return to more paternalistic forms of juvenile justice.