Crime And Deviance - Crime And Gender - Otto Pollak (1950)

Question 1

what does Pollak claim in his study ?

Answer 1

• claims there is a perception that women commit less crimes but in reality they are just better at hiding it
• he labels it “the masked female offender”
• claims that women are experts at telling lies

Question 2

why does he claim this?

Answer 2

• he states women have perfectly been able to cover pain during their menstrual cycle
• as such, they can talk themselves out of trouble

Question 3

evaluation/counter arguments?

Answer 3

• lacks sufficient evidence
• his ideas don’t make sense in regard to the increase in violent crimes committed by women

Question 4

describe the Anna Reynolds case

Answer 4

• in 1986, at 17 years old, she murdered her mother while she was asleep
• given life sentence, then 2 years later it was overturned on appeal as she had a hormone imbalance linked to pre menstrual stress sydrome (PMS)
• then she was convicted of manslaughter and sent to a mental health institute

Question 5

how does this support his theory?

Answer 5

shows that the law does consider biological factors in court