gender and crime Flashcards
Summarise gender and crime
Official statistics show men commit more crime than women, sociologists disagree. Some sociologists argue female offending rates go unnoticed and unpunished because criminal justice system treats women more leniently, through ideas such as the chivalry thesis (Pollak). some sociologists believe the gender differences in offending are due to the way women are socialised meaning they have less opportunity or desire to commit crime. On the other hand, other sociologists argue women do commit crime, but men merely commit more due to the idea of ‘masculinity’.
Why do women commit less crime than men?
Patriarchal control theory, functionalist sex role theory
What is the control theory?
Heidensohn argues women have at least one male figure in their life who does not want them to commit crime.
What is the functionalist sex role theory?
Parsons- due to their biology and the way they are socialised, women are nurturing by nature, and therefore are incapable of/ do not want to commit crime. Women are too preoccupied being a mother.
Who talks about the sex role theory?
Functionalist- Parsons
What is the chivalry thesis?
Pollak argues men have a protective attitude towards women and thus are more lenient, so their crimes are less likely to end up in official statistics. For instance, women are more likely to be ‘let off’ for crimes such as speeding.
Who talks about the chivalry thesis?
Pollak
What is the liberation thesis?
Adler believes that women are now becoming much more equal in society with men, therefore they now commit more crime.
Who talks about the liberation thesis?
Adler
What does Pollak say?
Chivalry thesis- police men are more lenient towards women and let them off with crimes such as speeding
What is the class and gender deal?
Carlen suggests that women have two deals, the class deal and the gender deal. The class deal is that if they work hard they will be financially rewarded in life. The gender deal is that if they are a good mother and wife they will be treated well. Carlen believes that when both deals break down, women turn to crime.
What does Carlen say?
Class and gender deal- if women work hard they will be financially rewarded, if they are a good mother and wife, they will be rewarded in life
Who talks about the class and gender deal?
Carlen
What are the reasons for men committing more crime than women?
masculinity and globalisation
Why does masculinity mean men commit more crime than women?
Messerschmidt- masculinity is an accomplishment that men constantly work at constructing and presenting to others. Hegemonic masculinity- the dominant and prestigious form men wish to accomplish. Therefore, Messerschmidt sees crime and deviance as a resource that different men may use to accomplish masculinity.
What does Messerschmidt say?
The hegemonic masculinity- dominant and prestigious form of men, men commit crime to gain this masculinity.
How has globalisation lead to more crime committed by men?
Winlow- led to a decline in traditional manual jobs in which many w/c males could express their masculinity through. However, there has been an increase in the night-time leisure economy which has provided a combination of legal employment and criminal opportunities to express masculinity.
What does Winlow say?
Decrease in trad manual jobs has left w/c with no jobs and therefore been an increase in criminal opportunities such as legal employment.
