Gender and Crime Flashcards
Gender and Crime Statistics:
2022: Men accounted for 79% of all crimes, 96% of prison population.
Patterns - gender and crime:
- Women commit fewer and different crimes to men.
- They only appear to be committing less crime due to invalid data.
- Women commit more crime now than in the past.
- Explanations for male criminality.
What is Sex-Role and Gender Socialisation Theory?
Boys and girls are socialised differently, so boys are more likely to become delinquent as girls are more strictly controlled.
- Parsons says girls have more accessibility to a female role model (tender), whereas boys have less access to a male role model.
McRobbie = ‘Bedroom Culture’, spend time in their bedroom whilst boys play in the street. Bought different toys.
Women still perform most domestic tasks, so do not have the same opportunity to commit crime.
Evaluation = assumes that women do most of the socialising and puts them into the expressive role.
What is Control Theory?
Heidensohn says that women’s opportunities are reduced due to the impact of social control by the patriarchy.
Controlled at home, in public and at work: kept in domesticity, controlled by social norms and have fewer opportunities to obtain management positions.
Evaluation = presents women as passive, generalises men and women’s roles within society. Patriarchy could also push women to commit more crime.
What are the Class and Gender deals (rational choice)?
Carlen suggests that women are encouraged to conform to social norms through class and gender deal.
Class = the material rewards arising from working in paid employment leads to a decent standard of living.
Gender = the rewards from fulfilling their roles in the family and the home.
Most women accept these deals, and therefore conform. However, if these are not worth the effort, they make a rational decision to choose crime.
What is the Chivalry Thesis?
Pollak suggests that the male-dominated criminal justice system treats women more leniently. Home Office = women half as likely to receive immediate imprisonment. Police do not see women as serious threats.
(Women also commit more criminal abortions and shoplift more, this is unreported due to women’s domestic roles giving them a better chance to conceal their crimes).
Evaluation of Chivalry Thesis:
- Women face harsher punishments for violent crimes due to their violation of feminine norms. Courts show double standards by being tougher on women who deviate from gender expectations.
- Women’s sentences are influenced by their character and performance in relation to their roles as mothers, wives and daughters, not by the severity of their offences. Perceived as ‘doubly deviant’.
What is the Liberation Thesis?
Adler argues that increasing female crime may be due to changing gender roles, with women gaining more independence and success.
- Weakening forms of control on women, has led to a ‘laddette’ culture where young women engage in traditionally masculine activities. The police increase prosecution rates for this behaviour.
Evaluation = female crime has been rising since before the liberation movement, suggesting that poverty may be a more significant factor.
Explanations for male criminality - sex role theory, accomplishing and asserting masculinity:
Sex Role:
- ‘Male’ traits such as aggression is encouraged by their peers, leading to higher risk of crime. Fewer constraints than women due to traditional roles in employment so more opportunity to commit crime.
Masculinity:
- Messerschmidt = men may turn to crime to assert their masculinity when other avenues are blocked.
- Hegemonic masculinity emphasises aggression and control over women, may seek pleasure through ‘edgework’.
- Men are ‘accomplishing masculinity’ by engaging in this.
Evaluation = while this explains why men commit more crime, it doesn’t account for why not all men without any means of asserting their masculinity turn to crime.
Gender and Victimology:
- Women are less likely to be victims of murder, but more likely to know the murderer.
- Women are more likely to be victims of theft.
- Women are more likely than men to be victims of domestic violence and sexual violence.
- Women account for a third of victims, men the other two thirds.
