feminism, gender + crime Flashcards
who studies gender patterns in crime?
Heidensohn - gender differences are perhaps the most significant feature of recorded crime. according to the OCS
4 key questions ?
- why do sociologists tend to ignore female crime?
- do women really commit fewer crimes?
- why do some women commit crime ?
- why do males commit more crime than females
- why do sociologists ignore female crime ?
despite women committing 20% of crimes they’re often ignored.
- Heidensohn has criticised the male dominance of crime and deviance and had suggested 5 reasons why
1. male dominance of offenders - more important to study them
2. male domination of sociology - most sociologists are men so research may revolve around them
3. vicarious identification - men likely feel more connected to male crime therefore more interested in it
4. sociological theorising - most sociological theories are gender blind and dont consider how they could be applied to women
5. lack of research opportunities - struggled to find useful examples of female crime
- do women really commit fewer crimes than men?
some sociologists argue that OCS underestimate the amount of female crime that occurs, this is because females typically commit female crimes such as shoplifting and are less likely to be reported. its argued that even when women’s crimes are detected or reported they’re less likely to be prosecuted or if prosecuted they’re more likely to be let off relatively lightly
- chivalry thesis ?
pollack argued that men committing more crime than women is a myth. he suggested that women are actually biologically compelled to commit certain crimes:
- biologically more deviant
- hormones and menstrual cycles cause emotional disturbance and low self esteem, he claims women are more devious due to their need to conceal things such as periods and faking orgasms.
- women manipulate men to commit crime for them.
in conclusion he suggests that the CJS treat women too leniantly
chivalry thesis overall?
argues male dominant CJS sees women as vunerable, childlike and not fully responsible for their actions
evidence for chivalry thesis ?
anne campbells self report study - found that girls committed as many deviant acts as boys
evidence against chivalry thesis ?
klein - argues the concept of the chivalry thesis is racist and classist. founded on the notion of women as ladies and its only applicable to middle class women who are the least likely to come into contact with the CJS in the first place
farrington + morris - women were not sentenced harshly compared to men in 408 offences in a magistrates court
if not chivalry then what are the 3 points that women commit less crime then men ?
- biological/psychological explanations
- socialisation
- feminism - social control
why does socialisation mean women commit less crime ?
parsons - believes that there are clear gender roles within the nuclear family. father performs the ‘instrumental’ role requires him to be the leader and provider, mother performs the ‘expressive’ role of giving emotional support and socialising children. Girls are socialised into more submissive and caring behaviour compared to boys, which is less conducive to deviance.
biological/ psychological reasons why women commit less crime than men ?
- women are innately different then men. women are more likely to nurture and care for values and do not support criminal activity.
- thomas - argued men and women possess essentially different personality traits. men have more active natures and women more passive impacting their tendency to criminality.
- dalton - claims women tend to commit crime at certain times of he month caused my hormonal factors during menstruation
why does feminism and social control mean that women commit less crime than men ?
feminists argue that patriarchal society imposes greater control over women and this reduces their opportunities to offend. Ultimately, women cannot commit crime as much as men.
- McRobbie and Garber: bedroom culture
heidensohn double deviance of females ?
argues for women committing crime this is role distorting and they are going against their expected role of a nurturer and carer. women have more to lose if they deviate, they not only risk prosecution and punishment but also disapproval of being unfeminine.
why do some women commit crime ? - liberation thesis
alder - As women become liberated from patriarchy, their crimes will become as frequent and as serious as men’s. She argues that changes in the structure of society have led to changes in women’s offending behaviour. Women have begun to adopt traditionally ‘male’ roles in both legitimate and illegitimate activity.
evidence to support
