Bias against women

Question 1

What does Heidensohn (1996) argue?

Answer 1

That courts treat females more harshly than males when they deviate from gender norms

Question 2

What evidence is there of Hiedensohn’s claims?

Answer 2

• Sharpe (2009): analysis of 55 youth worker records, seven out of eleven girls were referred for support due to being sexually active, but none out of 44 boys
• Stewart (2006): magistrates’ perceptions of female defendants’ characters were based on stereotypical gender roles

Question 3

What does Carlen (1997) argue?

Answer 3

When women are jailed, it is less for the seriousness of their crimes and more according to the court’s assessment of them as wives, mothers and daughters

Question 4

What do Walklate and Adler argue?

Answer 4

1. In rape cases, the victim has to first prove her respectability so that her evidence is accepted
2. Women who are deemed to lack respectability, such as single parents, it’s difficult for them to have their testimony believed