Gendered Pathways to First Imprisonment in Midlife and Later Adulthood: A Life-Course Perspective from Japan

This study extends gendered pathways research by applying a gendered life-course perspective to women’s first imprisonment in Japan. Using data from 110 women convicted of property offenses residing in a halfway house, it compared women first imprisoned before age 40 with those first imprisoned at age 40 or older and explored life-course configurations among the latter. Compared with the younger group, women first imprisoned at age 40 or older were more likely to have been married and to have had children, less likely to report adverse childhood experiences and contact with antisocial others, and over half first offended at age 40 or later. Exploratory cluster analysis identified three life-course configurations: cumulative adversity, persistent relational vulnerability despite relatively stable social functioning, and offending following midlife role loss and social disconnection. These findings highlight heterogeneity in life-course experiences preceding first imprisonment among women first imprisoned in midlife or later adulthood.