Explaining female crime Flashcards
What is the functionalist sex role theory ?
The idea that social control, socialisation , and marginalisation cause women to commit less crime
What does Parsons (1955) say about the sex role theory in regards to socialisation ?
Girls have a clear role model in the family to follow that emphasises being caring, gentle and nurturing. The boys reject this feminine model of behaviour
What does A Cohen (1955) say about the sex role theory in regards to socialisation ?
The lack of a male role model encourages boys to join all male gangs as a source of masculine identity, (link to new right)
What does Hagan (1987) say about the sex role theory in regards to social control ?
Studied child-raising in Canada and found that there was a significantly greater control over the behaviour of daughter’s activities in families compared to sons
What does Heidensohn (1996) say about the sex role theory in regards to social control ?
That there are a whole host of informal sanctions placed on women’s behaviours that would prevent them from becoming deviant
What is the common belief of why women are marginalised away from crime ?
There is a narrower range of opportunities for women to commit crime when they are confined by their socialisation and social control
What are the 3 ways Heidensohn (1996) believes females are made more conformist ?
Control in the home
Control in public
Control in work
What do Dobash and Dobash (1979) say about control in the home ?
Many violent attacks are the result of men’s dissatisfaction with their wives performance domestically
What does Smart (1989) add ?
That daughters are also subject to patriarchal control
What is the belief about control in the workplace ?
Women are less likely to be involved in white collar and corporate crime because discrimination in the workplace
