Gender Flashcards
Traditional views women and crime
Women ignored: commit fewer crimes, more trival e.g shoplifting
Heidensohn: vicarious identification male sociologists like excitement and danger studying male crime
Facts and statistics on crime
4/5 convicted criminals males
Age 40 9% females criminal conviction - 32% men
8% prison pop female
Why are official statistics considered misleading
Chivalry thesis
Evidence bias against women
Women becoming more deviant
What is the chivalry thesis
Socialised act chivalrously towards women
Includes: criminal justice agents, police, magistrates, judges and men
Men hate to accuse women: dislike arresting and prosecuting
How does Steffensmeir support chivalry thesis
Women treated more leniently
Judges dont want to separate from kids
Women emotional and rational
Who argued women are treated more leniently and Judges dont want to separate them from their kids
Steffensmeir
Who states more women are cautioned than prosecuted chivalry thesis
Kalven and Zaesal
What do Kalven and Zaesal say about chivalry thesis
More women cautioned than prosecuted
Britain NACRO: no special factors influencing approach sentencing women
- responsibility running home - caring dependents - pregnant
What are the Ministry of Justice statistics to support more women cautioned
2007 49% women cautioned
30% males
What does Campbell say to support chivalry thesis
Police hold stereotypical image women law abiding
Evaluation chivalry thesis
- Farrington & Morris: 408 offences theft 1983 women werent treated more leniently
- Buckle & Farrington: observational study men 2x more likely shoplift despite women being more likely prosecuted for it
- Box: reviewed British and American studies women showed more remorse not lenient
What evidence is there of a bias against women
Male offenders treated more sympathetically
Why does Smart argue there is a bias against women
rape trials celebrate males sexual needs, females unpredictability - capriciousness
What evidence from Judges are there to show bias against women
Judge Wild: women who say no do not always mean no
Judge Bertrand Richards: women hitch hiking at night asking for rape
Why do Dobash and Dobash say there is a bias against women
Police officers unlikely make arrest when offender used violence against his wife
Why does walkate argue there is a bias against women
More likely imprisoned minor offences e.g. Non payment of fine
Prisons based male model punishment
Double discriminate upon release
Secondary victimisation
What does Walkate mean by secondary victimisation
Rape trials women not the suspect on trial
Reputation and respectability scrutinised
Double victimisation
Facts and statistics on rape cases
Low conviction rate: 5% 57% cases carried out by partners 75% happen home Women make up 92% rape cases 2/3 cases not reported
Why are women becoming more deviant
Liberation thesis
Changing attitudes
Who came up with liberation thesis
Adler
What is the liberation thesis
Women entering labour market range laws protect women
Starting compete with men and becoming more like men
Taking on mens roles and pressures
More opportunities
No longer afraid be deviant
No longer feel suppressed male expectations
Same stresses men: turn to crime
Entering job world: access white collar
What argument does the liberation thesis support
Women becoming more deviant
How does Smart evaluation liberation thesis
Official figures do not support
Womens crime increased 35-46
Does not coincide womens liberation
Who states there has been a change in attitudes leading women commit more crime
Box and Hale
Why do Box and Halle argue change in attitudes led to more women committing crime
Among police, courts towards female offending
No chivalry thesis
Women ‘soft targets’ help improve perceived performance
More female police officers:harsher
Net widening: more inclined prosecute less serious crime
Less tolerant
Due marginalisation not liberation
What is the biological/psychological response to support official statistics as correct
Morris: 1/2 life pre/post menstruation
Lombroso: biology prevents woman being criminal ‘maternal instincts’
Cowie and Slater: girls higher immunity environmental stress
Girls only turn crime ‘constitutional predisposing factors’
Edwards: several cases PMT successful as defence
Why does Lombroso argue women do not commit crime and accept statistics
Biology prevents women being criminal
‘Maternal instincts’
Who Cowie and Slater agree with statistics that women conform more
High levels immunity environmental stressors
Only when ‘constitutional predisposing factors’ turn to crime
What does Edwards say about women conforming
Several cases where PMT successful defence
Why does Pollak criticise women conforming
Menstruation reminds women of their inferior status turn to crime for revenge
If deviate maybe brought up by dad
What theorists argue women are socialised conform more
Functionalists
New Right
Feminists
Why do Functionalists argue women are socialised in to conforming
Parsons: family over feminine.
Boys seek distance feminine models engaging in ‘compensatory compulsory masculinity’
Overcompensate develop ‘masculine behaviour
Why does the New Right argue women are socialised in to conforming
Murray: SPF: boys surrounded by female influence leads hyper masculinity
90% SPF headed females
How does Walklate evaluate functionist and new right view that women over feminine in socialisation
Criticises them for assuming women adopt expressive role
Why do Feminists argue women are socialised in to conforming
Gender role socialisation
Smart/Oakley: girls socialised be passive, boys aggressive.
Girls lack values associated delinquency
Who are the 2 researchers who look in to control theory to support women conforming more
Heidensohn
Carlen
What is Heidensohns control theory based on
Social control patriarchal society, at home, public and work
How does Heidensohn argue domesticity controls women
Women spend hours doing housework, looking after young children
Little time illegal activities
How does Heidensohn argue pervasive value controls women
Women must carry out domestic role or failure mother
Woman challenges role: face domestic violence
Reinforced by force
How does Heidensohn argue fear of crime controls women
54% women wont go out after dark 14% men wont Ideology separate sphere Braunmiller: 'fear of rape' intimidation oppresses and subordinates state fear Male gaze
How does Heidensohn argue work controls women
Male superiors hierarchy
Trade unions dominated men
Intimidated forms sexual harassment - 60% women suffer
Pin ups at work
What is Carlens Control theory based on
Adaption Hirschis control theory
Class and gender deal control women
How does Carlen argue class deal controls women
Women who work will be offered material rewards, decent standards living, leisure opportunities
How does Carlen argue gender deal controls women
Patriarchal ideology promises women material and emotional rewards from family life conforming norms conventional domestic gender role ‘get good man’
What was Carlens study to support his control theory
39 15-46 year old w.c women in prison both deals had not been delivered
Most abused as child, not got a good job or a man
What are the statistics to support Carlens theory
74% female prisoners left school at 15, compared 32% general pop
39% educational qualification, compared 82% general pop
37% previously tried commit suicide
Evaluation Heidensohn and Carlens control theories
Ignores free will
Plenty women who have little dont turn to crime
Small sample - 39 women
Who argues limited opportunities prevent women from committing crime
Simon
Box
McRobbie
Why does Simon argue women have less opportunities commit crime
Women less likely engage white collar crime as men have top jobs
Why does Box argue women less likely have opportunity commit crime
Glorified godfathers
Women used sexual decoys or sexual play offs
Why does McRobbie argue women less likely have opportunity commit crime
Adolescence confined to home result parental control
Not in streets where opportunity delinquent behaviour occur
What is an evaluation McRobbie
Easily access crime/be delinquent in bedroom
Why do men commit more crime
Sex role/gender socialisation
Masculinity thesis
What s the sex role explanation for why men commit more crime
Male trad role = breadwinner, characteristics = tough aggressive competitive. Peer groups reinforce.m = greater risk crime and delinquency. Men more independence and lack responsibility that conforms women = more opportunities commit crime
Who researches in to masculinity thesis
Connell
Messerschidmt
Lyng
Post modernism
What is Connells point to support masculinity thesis
Hegemonic masculinity = male gender identity defining ‘real man’
Characteristics: control/subordination women, toughness, focal concern lower w.c subculture
What is Messerschidmts point to support masculinity thesis
Assert masculinity when legitimate means blocked. Legitimate: success, stable family, secure status. When this is missing seek out alternatives ‘masculine-validating resources’ e.g violence, crime Usually deprived backgrounds
What is Lyngs point to support masculinity thesis
Edgework: way expressing masculinity more likely those legitimate means blocked
Hegemonic masculinity: ruthless ambition = white collar. Explains men of all social classes
What post modernist study supports masculinity thesis
Winslows study of unemployed Sunderland
What was Winslows study
Studied bouncers Sunderland
Area deindustrialise and unemployed. Lose job lose masculinity go to gym gain body capital become bouncers work nocturnal economy opened opportunities paid work and illegal business e.g drugs
What does Winslows study show
How to gain criminal job when lack organised crime and absence professional criminal subculture modern society
How ‘hard men’ earn status
What conclusions can be drawn on gender and crime
Feminists: CJS biased
Heidensohn: harsher when deviate gender norms e.g either virgin or a whore
Double standards: punish girls not boys premature promiscuous activity
Women who do not conform punished more harshly
Stewart: magistrates base perception of trad gender roles
Carlen: jail for less serious crime, about courts assessment them as wives mothers daughters