Gender And Crime: Chivalry

Question 1

Pollack

Answer 1

P: doesn’t believe that males commit more crime and argues that is due to treatment and biology

biology: Women are compelled by physiology to commit crime such as hormones and the menstrual cycle which can cause emotional disturbance
treatment: leniency in the criminal justice system - chivalry

Question 2

Chivalry thesis:

Answer 2

This refers to the idea that’s the male dominated criminal justice system view women as vulnerable,
childlike not responsible for their actions which results in more lenient sentences and caution

Question 3

Speed and Burrows:

Answer 3

looked at sentencing for shoplifting and found that males were twice as likely to receive a custodial sentence

Question 4

Klein:

Answer 4

Argues that the chivalry basis is too simplistic

He argues that chivalry is classist and racist and is only applicable to white middle-class women who are least likely to be involved in the criminal justice system

Question 5

Factors:

Answer 5

Courts consider mitigating factors and aggravating factors:

Mitigating factors: factors that work in the individuals favour such as a lack of previous offending, a guilty plea and remorse

Aggravating factors: factors that do not work in the individuals favour such as no remorse, a history of offending and a weapon

Question 6

Heidensohn:

Answer 6

Stresses that females who display feminine behaviour such as crying may be treated more lenient than those who do not

Question 7

Hedderman and Gunby:

Answer 7

Argue that females often have more complex situations such as domestic violence and children and therefore mitigating factors aren’t chivalry but instead are appropriate