Gender and Crime Flashcards
give 2 arguments why women may commit more crimes than statistics suggest
-typical female crimes eg shoplifting less likely to be reported or noticed compared to sexual/violent crimes
-property/ petty offences not always prosecuted and easier to get away with
give a statistic about convicted offenders
-4/5 convicted offenders in England/ Wales are male
what crimes are males and females more likely to commit
-women = property offences
men = violent or sexual offences
what are the three main theorists and theories on why women may commit fewer crimes
-Pollak’s chivalry Thesis
-Parsons Sex Roles
-Heidensohn Patriarchal Control
explain Pollak’s chivalry thesis
-justice system made up of mainly men treats women more leniently due to socialisation making them chivalrous
give two pieces of evidence that support Pollak’s chivalry thesis
-women more likely to be released on bail rather than custody
-women more likely to receive fines/ community sentences and receive shorter prison sentences
why is there limited evidence for Pollak’s chivalry thesis
-only explains women absence in official stats and justice system would deny bc of professionalism
give two pieces of evidence that discredit Pollak’s chivalry thesis
-Farrington and Buckle found twice as many male shoplifters despite official stats, suggests women prosecuted more
-self report studies find men commit more offences
explain Parson’s sex roles theory
-due to biology and socialisation process women are nurturing/ deterred from crime
-boys reject feminine models of behaviour and engage on compensatory compulsory masculinity which leads to delinquency
what roles does Parsons argue men and women have
-men=instrumental breadwinners
-women = expressive role
which two theorists support lack of male role models as a cause of crime (Parsons Sex Role)
-Cohen
-Murray
give two evaluations of Parson’s Sex Role theory using a theorist
-Sandra Walklate criticises biological assumptions
-outdated and ignores other factors
explain Heidensohn’s Patriarchal Control theory
-women have at least one male role figure in their life who does not want them to commit crime
-women are controlled at home, in public and at work
explain Heidensohn’s argument that women are controlled in the home (3)
-domestic housework confines women and reduces opportunities to offend
-women less likely to be given funds for leisure and to be able to come and go
-bedroom culture develops and less oppourtunity
explain Heidensohn’s argument that women are controlled in public (3)
-controlled by threat of male violence
-worsened by sensationalist media reporting of sexual/ violent crimes
-Lees argues women are controlled by her of being labelled loose or slags
explain Heidensohn’s argument that women are controlled in work (3)
-control through sexual harassment keeping women in their place
-glass ceiling prevents opportunity for white collar crime
-inequality in pay/ labour market make women more likely to be poor and commit utilitarian crimes
what are the two main theorists and theories for explaining female crimes
-Adler’s Liberation Thesis
-Carlen Class and Gender Deals
explain Carlen’s Class and Gender Deals
-crime occurs when women lose both class and gender deals
-class deal = work hard get rewards
-gender deal = good mothers/ wives are treated well
what was Carlen’s study (3)
-39 15-46 year olds studied
-majority always been in poverty, many had been in care or abused by male figures
-turned to crime for decent standard of living and failure to re enter society
give 4 evaluations of Carlen’s class and gender deals
-ignores abusive men
-undermines women’s free will
-single women not accounted for
-not representative
give 2 examples of women losing class and gender deals
-Shakira embezzlement
-Abby Lee Miller tax fraud
explain Adler’s liberation thesis
-women are now becoming more equal in society which results in more crime as they adopt traditional male roles in both work and crime
give an example of Adler’s liberation thesis
-Ladette moral panic in the 90s
-increase of females committing embezzlement
evaluate Adler’s liberation thesis (4)
-female criminality rose in 50s, before liberation movement
-are prostitution and drug related crimes liberating?
-not everyone with masculine traits commit crime
-m/c women more liberated but w/c commit more
