AC1.2 Flashcards
Polygamy- where its legal and illegal.
Having multiple spouses at one time. Polygyny/ polyandry.
Legal in some majority muslim countries, India, Malaysia, Singapore.
Illegal in Uganda, USA, Germany: up to 7 years or a fine of 5k for both parties.
Why do laws on polygamy differ?
-Religion: Qur’an permits polygamy, Bible does not.
-Beliefs and values of government. Traditional/ conservative gov= stricter rules.
Adultery- where its legal and illegal.
Sexual acts where one party is married- definitions vary across cultures.
Illegal in some majority muslim countries, Africa, The Philippines, some USA. Punishments range from a fine to stoning.
Decriminalised in UK and India.
Polygamy case study: Alex Joseph.
Mormon sect leader in Utah, USA. 20 wives in total. 14 biological children, several adopted and fostered.
Why laws on adultery differ.
-Social standard and expectations.
-Definition of adultery.
-Open or conservative discussions of sexuality.
-If women are seen as property or equal.
Homosexuality: where its legal and illegal.
Illegal in Pakistan, Jamaica (10 years forced labour), Kenya (14 years), Cameroon (£400 fine).
Legal in Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Barbados.
Why laws on homosexuality differ.
-Religion: if law is based solely on traditional religious values. Secularisation.
-Public opinion and support. Can be influenced by religion.
-Male homosexuality being more illegal: women are seen as incapable due to misogyny.
Punishments for possession of marijuana.
-Possession: 5 years.
-Supply: 14 years+ £90 fine.
Legal in Canada, Uruguay, California.
Decriminalisation of marijuana: Portugal (2001).
-Seen as a public health concern+ civil offence, not a crime. People are rehabilitated, not imprisoned.
-Revolution dissolved a dictator and the rigid social rules.
-Highest rate of heroin addiction in Europe.
-Aimed to reduce the level of HIV+ AIDS. Drug use fell sharply
Why Marijuana was decriminalised.
-More lenient society after the dissolve of a dictator.
-Norms+ values: more personal freedom. Victimless crime.
-Lawmakers: imprisonment not affective. Harm reduction.
Gun control laws: UK.
-Restriction on:
Uses- hunting, shooting ranges.
Who can own: mental health, parking tickets, safe to keep them.
Banned use of certain guns.
Reasons for changing attitudes to guns.
-1996 Dunblane shooting at a Scottish primary school. 16 children, 1 teacher.
-Snowdrop campaign: founded by families of victims.
-Public outcry.
-Campaign by gun control networks.
Laws for children.
-Criminal age responsibility= 10.
-Tried as a child.
-NSPCC+ Childline.
-Safeguarding laws+ child services.
-More education.
-Child labour laws.
Changes in attitudes towards children.
-Medieval: domestic labour, no education.
-Victorian: factory labour at a young age.
-1900s: more labour laws, more education.
-Contemporary: not able to work until around 16.
Key legislation for children.
-19th c factory acts: can’t work in coal mines, mills.
-Compulsory schooling (1880): 5-10.
-2004 children’s act: child welfare is fundamental welfare eg child services.
-Age of consent, smoking.
Capital+ corporal punishment.
-Being sentenced to death: hanging, firing squad, lethal injection.
-Physical punishment: flogging, caning stocks.
Conditions for both lessened over time, once only remaining for murder and treason (going against the monarch or country.)
-Elias: civilising process. State enforced punishments leads to self-control and reform.
Capital punishment legislations.
-Capital punishment abolished in 1965.
-Corporal punishment gradually disappeared.
-Flogging in the army was abolished 1881 and for offenders was abolished in 1967.
Human rights+ justice for capital punishment.
-Goes against the universal declaration’s human right to life- article 3.
-Miscarriage of justice: someone can’t be un-killed. Death is permanent and can’t be amended if DNA evidence or witness testimonies come out.
-Not affective in deterring crime: if someone commits one crime, they will do another because they will die either way.
-Violence is not affective, as society moves away from it: rehabilitation for drug users is more affective.
Moral panic+ typifications.
-Cohen: over-exaggerated public fear over a perceived problem promoted by the media eg mods+ rockers, Muslims after 9/11.
-Cicourell: identifying features that police use to identify who is more likely to commit crime eg young men in baggy clothes, George Floyd, working class.
How do the middle class negotiate their justice?
-Share identity with police and judges: they understand them more and are lenient.
-Rich families are not investigated for crime eg sexual assault.
-Ethnic minorities are more likely to be found guilty.
-Wealthy people can afford better lawyers eg OJ Simpson.
-Family ties to police: not investigated.
