Gender and crime Flashcards
Gender patterns in crime:
What are the gender patterns when it comes to crime?
In the UK, around 73% of those arrested for crimes are men, despite them making up only 49% of the population. Men are responsible for approximately 80% of violent crimes, such as assaults and homicides.
Women are more likely to be involved in non-violent crimes like theft and shoplifting, with women making up around 20% of arrests for theft-related offenses. However, recent statistics show a rise in women’s involvement in crime, particularly property crimes, with the number of women convicted for drug offenses increasing by around 30% in the past decade.
The Chivalry thesis:
How does the chivalry thesis explain why the criminal justice system is lenient towards women? (use sociologist)
Pollak, suggests that the criminal justice system is more lenient towards women because it is influenced by the traditional notion of men being protective towards women. According to this view, police officers, judges, and other authorities may subconsciously treat women more favorably, assuming they are less dangerous or capable of committing serious crimes.
This leniency can result in women receiving lighter sentences or being diverted from formal legal processes, especially in cases of less serious crimes. Critics argue that this can lead to an underestimation of the seriousness of crimes committed by women, as their actions are often seen through a more sympathetic lens.
Criticisms:
How is the criminal justice system not lenient towards women when it comes to crime? (use sociologist)
Carlen (1988) suggests that women, especially those from working-class backgrounds, are often treated more harshly because they fail to conform to traditional gender expectations.
For example, women who commit crimes, particularly violent or serious offenses, are often viewed as violating gender norms and face more severe punishment. Furthermore, women are often judged more for their roles as mothers or caregivers, and their crimes may be viewed as more deviant or socially unacceptable, leading to harsher sentencing.
Explaining female crime:
How does the functionalist sex theory explain why women don’t commit crime? (use sociologists)
Parsons argues that gender roles in the nuclear family lead to gendered patterns of crime. Men perform the instrumental role (breadwinner) outside the home, while women take on the expressive role (housework and caregiving). Boys, seeing their mothers as role models, tend to adopt aggression and antisocial behaviors as a form of compensating for perceived weakness. Girls, on the other hand, typically conform to traditional behaviors, as they learn from their mothers.
Cohen argues that the absence of an adult male role model causes boys to form all-male street gangs to achieve status through toughness and risk-taking. In the absence of fathers, these boys lack a positive male figure and seek to demonstrate masculinity through delinquent behavior. Street gangs become a place where they earn respect through acts of violence or rebellion. These acts, Cohen argues, are ways to compensate for their perceived lack of masculinity.
Criticism:
What is a criticism that women don’t commit crime because of socialisation? (use sociologist)
Oakley (1972) disagrees with Parsons’ idea that men and women have fixed roles in society. She argues that many women now work outside the home, so their roles are no longer just focused on caregiving.
Oakley also believes that men’s criminal behaviour is influenced by more than just family upbringing; broader societal factors also play a role. (toxic masculinity)
Explaining female crime:
How does patriarchal control show why women don’t commit crime? (use sociologist)
Heidensohn (1996) argues that women commit less crime due to the greater control society exerts over them. Patriarchal society imposes restrictions at home, in public spaces, and at work.
Women’s domestic duties and the threat of domestic violence limit their opportunities for offending. In public, fear of male violence restricts women’s mobility, and at work, gender discrimination limits their chances for independent success.
Criticism:
What is a criticism that women don’t commit crime because of patriarchal control? (use sociologist)
Messerschmidt criticizes Heidensohn for not fully recognizing women’s ability to resist patriarchal control. He argues that women can challenge traditional gender roles, especially in changing environments like the workplace or through activism. Rather than simply conforming, women can actively negotiate and resist societal expectations.
Explaining female crime:
Why do women choose to commit crimes due to class and gender? (use sociologist)
Carlen argues that working-class women conform to social norms because of two “deals”: the class deal (material rewards for a decent standard of living) and the gender deal (emotional rewards for conforming to domestic roles).
These promises of security and reward encourage women to adhere to societal expectations. Women who reject these deals, particularly the gender deal, are more likely to turn to crime, as they do not receive the promised rewards. Women’s decision to commit or avoid crime depends on whether they perceive these deals as worthwhile.
Criticism:
What is a criticism that women commit crime because of class and gender deals? (use sociologist)
Right realists would criticize Carlen’s theory by arguing that it overemphasizes the role of social factors and neglects personal responsibility. They would argue that individuals, including women, have free will and should be held accountable for their actions, regardless of their social circumstances.
Right realists would focus more on the importance of strong social controls, deterrence, and personal choice in preventing crime, rather than explaining it through social “deals.”
Explaining female crime:
How does the liberation thesis explain why women commit crime? (use sociologist)
Adler (1975), argues that as women gain more social and economic equality, they are more likely to engage in criminal behavior. Adler suggested that with greater freedom in society, women have more opportunities to commit crimes that were once considered male-dominated, such as violent crime or white-collar crime.
This change in behavior is linked to the loosening of traditional gender roles and the increasing independence of women. As women enter the workforce and gain financial power, they may also experience greater stress or frustration, contributing to their involvement in crime.
Criticism:
What is a criticism that women commit crime because they are free to? (use sociologist)
Heidensohn (1985) argued that women’s criminality is not just a result of increased freedom but is also shaped by patriarchal control and gender expectations.
She emphasized that women’s behavior is still constrained by societal norms, and their involvement in crime is more likely to be influenced by social circumstances, such as poverty or abuse, rather than liberation.
Gender and victimisation:
What is the correlation between gender and victimisation?
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), in 2020, women were more likely to be victims of domestic abuse, with 7.3% of women reporting having experienced domestic abuse in the past year compared to 4.2% of men.
Women are also significantly more likely to be victims of sexual violence. The CSEW found that in 2019, 4.7% of women reported experiencing sexual assault in the last year, compared to 0.6% of men.
On the other hand, men are more likely to be victims of violent crime, including physical assault. The CSEW reported that 2.6% of men and 1.6% of women were victims of violent crime in the last year.
Explaining male crime:
How does masculinity show why men commit crime? (use sociologist)
Messerschmidt argues that male crime is tied to the performance of masculinity, which men must continually prove. Men in different social positions use crime to assert their masculinity, especially in environments where traditional masculine traits like aggression are valued.
This can manifest in violent crime, gang membership, or even white-collar crime. The desire to prove masculinity can lead men to engage in behaviors that are deemed criminal or deviant in society.
Criticism:
What is a criticism that men commit crime due to masculinity? (use sociologist)
Connell criticizes Messerschmidt’s theory because it focuses too much on one type of masculinity, the dominant one. She believes Messerschmidt ignores the different ways masculinity can be expressed, especially in non-Western cultures.
Connell also argues that factors like class, race, and sexual identity influence male crime in more complex ways than Messerschmidt suggests. She says the link between masculinity and crime is not as simple as Messerschmidt makes it out to be.
Explaining male crime:
How does post-modernity explain why men commit crime? (us sociologist)
Winslow argues that post-modern changes have led to more fluid and diverse forms of masculinity. Men now face challenges to traditional masculine roles due to the breakdown of rigid gender norms.
As masculinity becomes less stable, some men engage in criminal acts to protect their social status or identity. This is especially true in cases where men feel marginalized or powerless in a rapidly changing society.
Criticism:
What is a criticism that men commit crime due to post-modern society? (use sociologist)
Newburn criticizes Winslow’s ideas for focusing too much on cultural changes and ignoring other factors that affect crime. He argues that Winslow doesn’t take into account things like class, economic conditions, or the role of the state in shaping crime. Newburn believes that these factors are just as important, if not more so, in understanding why men commit crimes in post-modern societies.
Explaining male crime:
How does bodily capital explain why men commit crime? (use sociologist)
Bodily Capital theory suggests that men use their physical appearance and toughness to assert dominance and protect their reputation. In some subcultures, like gangs, men engage in aggressive or criminal behaviour to project strength and discourage challenges to their masculinity.
This “capital” is crucial for maintaining respect and employability in certain environments. The idea is that men’s physical bodies act as tools for their social status.
Criticism:
What is a criticism that men commit crime due to bodily capital? (use sociologist)
Sutton argues that the theory oversimplifies male criminality by focusing too much on physicality. Sutton suggests that men’s criminal behaviour cannot be reduced simply to their need for physical dominance and reputation; factors such as economic pressures, family dynamics, and social networks also play a significant role.
