Crime & Deviance - Gender - Messerschmidt (1993) & Dick Hobbs et al (2003) Masculinity

Question 1

Outline James Messerschmidt’s (1993) explanation of crime and gender

Answer 1

• no proof that men across the world demonstrate the same characteristics
• many theories overlook how gender roles are challenged today

Question 2

Name and describe the two types of masculinity that Messerschmidt identifies (2)

Question 3

Name and describe the two types of masculinity that Messerschmidt identifies (2)

Answer 3

1) hegemonic : widely recognised, dominant and highly valued
2) subordinated: less powerful, under-valued, less widespread

Question 4

Which is more dominant in British Society? What are the key behaviours? (4)

Answer 4

There is a normative, hegemonic masculinity shaped by behaviours such as:
- drinking beer
- swearing
- ‘pulling women’
- physical aggression

Question 5

What type of men commit crime according to Messerschmidt? (1)

Answer 5

• powerless men who struggle to accomplish masculinity

Question 6

Eval regarding this argument (3)

Answer 6

• some men are criminals while others aren’t, why?
• lacks concrete evidence - ignoring other factors?
• not all crimes link to masculinity I.e. Fraud and other ‘hidden crimes’

Question 7

Outline the Dick Hobbs et al study including how long it took & how data was collected (3)

Answer 7

• studied the increasing no. of nightclubs in urban areas & increasingly liberal attitudes towards alcohol
• 2 year long research project
• participant observation & interviews with bouncers and police officers took place to understand the night time economy

Question 8

What did the study find out about bouncers and their behaviour? (2)

Answer 8

• bouncers freely used violence during their work = opportunity to acquire and maintain status of ‘hard man’
• simultaneously having access to the criminal world of drug dealing

Question 9

What did the study find out about bouncers and their behaviour?

Answer 9

• bouncers freely used violence during their work = opportunity to acquire and maintain status of ‘hard man’
• simultaneously having access to the criminal world of drug dealing

Question 10

What does this suggest about male criminals? (1)

Answer 10

• for many male criminals, crime is a way to assert their masculinity and take advantage of illegitimate money making

Question 11

Eval regarding Dick Hobbs et Al research methods? (3)

Answer 11

• participant observation (p/o) is highly subjective
• interview effect could also take place, exaggerating the truth/ lying for fear of getting into trouble
• failure to disclose information = incomplete understanding of research

Question 12

Eval regarding Dick Hobbs et Al research methods? (3)

Answer 12

• participant observation (p/o) is highly subjective
• interview effect could also take place, exaggerating the truth/ lying for fear of getting into trouble
• failure to disclose information = incomplete understanding of research