Gender affects young people's experience of autonomy and outcomes. Among young people who are not preoccupied with what others think, females are less likely to commit crimes than males.

Gender

Gender may play a role in the influence of relationships. For example, young people who have strong bonds with a parent or adult in their lives are less likely to commit a crime. However, these strong bonds are more influential on the behaviours of young women than young men.

There are some gender-specific outcomes related to social competence. For example, partner sexual communication is associated with increases in the use of contraceptives by young women, but not by young men.

Questions to consider: How can our program create youth to self determine their gender expression, their ethnic and cultural identity and their sexual orientation? How can our program be inclusive of all genders, all ethnicity, all sexual orientations and all abilities? How can our program encourage youth to feel hopeful about their competence even when they try new and challenging things as they get older?