Abstract
This article draws on semi-structured interviews conducted with young offenders as part of ‘The Automobile of the 21st Century’ (AUTO21) national research initiative. AUTO21 is a Canadian research project that aims to strengthen and improve Canada's automotive industry. As part of this initiative, an exploratory research project was undertaken to examine how young people understand their participation in auto theft. Interviews with young auto thieves revealed different patterns of auto theft between young men and women and different practices of femininity and masculinity. Despite having both participated in the same crime (auto theft), it was found that young men's masculine identities formed in dialogue with hegemonic masculinity while young women's feminine identities formed in dialogue with hegemonic femininity.
Acknowledgments
The authors extend their thanks to the AUTO21 research network for the financial support that made this study possible. They also thank the young people who agreed to participate, and the staff at the Regional Detention Centre, Talitha House, Fairbairn House, Chaudiere House and Probation Services for their assistance and support. Thanks also to Tullio Caputo for his insightful review and analysis.