Crime And Deviance - Crime And Gender - Francis Heidensonn & Social Control (2003)

Question 1

Francis Heidensohn

Answer 1

The feminist sociologist argues that far fewer women commit crimes due to the ways that they are excessively controlled by men in society

Question 2

Heidensohn’s 3 main ways that women are controlled:

Answer 2

1. at home
2. at work
3. in public

Question 3

How does Heidensohn argue that women are controlled at home?

Answer 3

• ‘take on main responsibility for housework and childcare in family life’
• ‘remain chainned to the kitchen sink’
• ‘domesticity is a form of detention’
• women are ‘trapped’ in gender roles that prevent them from committing crimes

Question 4

How are women socially controlled at work?

Answer 4

• excessive social control prevents women from being able to commit crime
• women face sexual harassment, discrimination and exploitation at work

Question 5

How are women controlled in public?

Answer 5

• they fear being out after dark alone (ref. Sarah Everard case;killed by a police officer while walking home at 9pm alone)
• fear of sexual assault or rape
• fear of soiling reputation (laelled sluts/slags by men)

Question 6

evaluation points

Answer 6

• fails to explain why women commit crimes
• the idea of women being controlled at home is dated (2002) and is less accurate today
• does not take men into account
• infantilizing women; portraying them as weak