Feminism

Question 1

How would Liberal Feminists approach c+d?

Answer 1

MOP - legal changes
W = safer in home + workplace now due to laws

Alder: W become liberated from patriarchy, there crime will become as serious + frequent as men

Question 2

What did Alder (liberal feminist) predicted will happen once w become liberated from patriarchy?

Answer 2

Their crimes will become as serious + frequent as mens

Question 3

How would Marxist Feminists approach c+d?

Answer 3

wc w = controlled by patriarchy + capitalism
Have fewer opportunities to commit crime but exploited by both
Capitalism = criminogenic, communist revolution = create safer S for w

Question 4

How would a Radical Feminist approach c+d?

Answer 4

S = patriarchal
Mens dominate = to blame for crime patterns

Brownmiller: fear of rape = powerful control over w behaviour

Question 5

What did Brownmiller say?

Answer 5

Fear of rape = powerful control over w behaviour

Question 6

How would Difference Feminist approach c+d?

Answer 6

Different types of w experience c+d differently
e.g. wc + minority w = more at risk
ALL WOMEN = DIFFERENT

Question 7

When did feminist criminology develop?

Answer 7

1970s

Alongside other critical criminologies such as Marxism, New Criminology and Left Realism

Question 8

What do they believe is the central issue in c+d?

Answer 8

Gender
BUT historical theories have focused almost exclusively on (wc) men
Tended to ignore both men as Vs + women as criminals or Vs

Question 9

What do feminist criminologists argue about all other theories of c+d?

Answer 9

= MALESTREAM
Research = carried out by men, about men
Then assumed the findings can be applied to w
Tends to ignore w as criminals or the Vs

Heidensohn suggests 3 reasons as to why

Question 10

What 3 reasons did Heidensohn suggest for the invisibility of women in criminology?

Answer 10

1. Academics + researcher in criminology = predominantly men
2. Male, mc sociologists has kind of romanticised preoccupation with macho wc deviance (Willis - ‘lads’)
3. Actually less to study - low level of female crime

Question 11

Why does Heidensohn argue that women commit less crime?

Answer 11

Men dominate the public sphere (pubs, work, clubs)
= most of the crime occurs
Women dominate the private sphere (home)
= little crime, less opportunity to commit crime

Question 12

Why does Carlen argue that women commit less crime?

Answer 12

The patriarchal control over W discourages female deviance

BUT also generates crime against W by M (domestic violence, sexual offences)

Question 13

Why does Smart (1976) argue that women commit less crime?

Answer 13

W = often seen as double deviants
They break the law + traditional gender roles
W’s offences = more highly stigmatised than those committed by men
Even if = less serious

Question 14

How does social control mean that women commit less crimes?

Answer 14

Gender role socialisation
W experience informal social control
M don’t - commit more crimes; ‘less controlled’

Question 15

Give 4 reasons why women commit less crime

Answer 15

1. Patriarchal control - Carlen
2. Control theory, public/ private spheres - Heidensohn
3. Double deviants - Smart (1976)
4. Gender role socialisation

Question 16

Give 6 ways that feminism has contributed to the study of c+d

Answer 16

1. New focus on female offending + experience of W in CJS
2. New focus on W as Vs, especially at hands of men
3. Challenged the notion that W enjoy ‘chivalry’ from CJS
4. Adaptation of existing theories to incorporate gender
5. Domestic violence
6. How W = treated by CJS in rape cases

Question 17

Why are feminists campaigning about how rape Vs = treated by the CJS?

Answer 17

Vs often feel like they’re being ‘put on trial’
Trying to prove that they’re lying
Only about 5% of rape accusations result in a conviction

Question 18

Give 2 criticism of the feminist approach?

Answer 18

1. Over states the effects of gender on crime rates

2. Ignores statistical evidence that suggests most female offenders = wc

Question 19

Give 2 advantages of the feminist approach to c+d

Answer 19

1. Support from other theories - Hirschi’s control theory supports Carlen’s idea that most people don’t commit crime; of control over them
2. Have contributed to our understanding of experiences of female criminals + Vs more than any other theory