[5.1] Explaining female crime

Question 1

What do Lombroso and Ferrero argue?

Answer 1

Criminality is innate, and few women are born criminal.

Question 2

What do sociologists see as the cause of gender differences in offending?

Answer 2

Social factors.

Question 3

Why are boys more predisposed to commit crime and acts of violence?

Answer 3

They are encouraged to be tough and aggressive.

Question 4

What does Parsons argue can lead boys to reject nurturing behaviour?

Answer 4

The fact that the mother takes on the expressive role, makes boys reject the behavioural stereotypes of their mothers.

Question 5

How is socialisation more difficult for boys?

Answer 5

Fathers often have little to do with the socialisation process and they are the most influential parent for young boys.

Question 6

What does the absence of a male role model in a family mean?

Answer 6

Boys turn to street gangs as a source of status and identity.

Question 7

How does Walklate criticise Parsons?

Answer 7

He assumes that just because women are biologically capable of producing children they are the best at raising them.

Question 8

What does Heidensohn suggest as the reason women commit fewer crimes than men?

Answer 8

Patriarchal society has greater control over women and their actions.

Question 9

How does patriarchal control operate at home?

Answer 9

Women’s domestic role takes up much of their time, while women who refuse to do so may find their partner enforces it through domestic violence. Men also exercise financial control, and control daughters as they have less freedom to come and go as they please.

Question 10

How does patriarchal control operate in public?

Answer 10

Women fear violence in public, and fear being defined as unrespectable through their dress or make-up.

Question 11

How does patriarchal control operate at work?

Answer 11

Women are controlled by male supervisors and managers, and sexual harassment is widespread and women are prevented from rising up the ranks by the ‘glass ceiling’.

Question 12

How can patriarchy encourage crime?

Answer 12

By restricting women so that they need to resort to prostitution or shoplifting to gain a decent standard of living.

Question 13

What are the two types of deal that Carlen argues women are persuaded to conform by?

Answer 13

The class deal, which suggests women who work will be offered material rewards.
The gender deal, patriarchy promises women material and emotional support.

Question 14

When does Carlen argue crime becomes more likely?

Answer 14

When the two deals she suggested are not available.

Question 15

Evaluate explanations of female crime in two points.

Answer 15

1. Shows how patriarchy stops deviance.

2. Deterministic.

Question 16

What does the liberation thesis by Adler suggest?

Answer 16

If society became less patriarchal, women’s crime rates would be similar to men’s.

Question 17

What allows women to commit more crime?

Answer 17

Their greater confidence and self-assertiveness, plus more opportunities for management positions so they can commit white-collar crime.

Question 18

What evidence supports Adler’s idea?

Answer 18

The overall rate of female offending has gone up, there are rising levels of female participation in ‘male’ crimes and there has been media talk of the growth of ‘girl’ gangs.

Question 19

Give three criticisms of the liberation thesis.

Answer 19

1. Most female criminals are working class, those who are least likely to be influenced by patriarchy.
2. Adler overestimates women’s liberation.
3. The female crime rate rose long before women’s liberation.