GENDER AND CRIME ESSAY Flashcards
When did Parsons come up with the Sex role theory?
1956
Outline Paragraph 1 (sex role)
- sex role theory/opportunity
- hegemonic masculinity
- criticised for being sexist and outdated
Outline Paragraph 2 (chivalry)
- chivalry thesis (Pollack, 1950)
- men socialised to be protective towards women
- criticised because more women work in the CJS, courts operate a double standard and women commit less serious offences (Graham and Bowling, 1995)
who claims that courts operate a double standard?
Heidensohn and Frigon (1995) who claims that female criminals offend “moral and social values and roles”
Who claims that women are less likely to be sentenced and more likely to be cautioned?
Carlen and Campbell (1981)
Outline Paragraph 3 (liberation)
- Adler: Liberation thesis (1975)
- more opportunities to commit corporate and white collar crime (Simon)
- committing more crimes associated with men - e.g gang violence
- ratio between male and female offences is closing (Utter et al)
- However, Violent crime actually decreases (Simon)
- Smart - ignores social processes which contribute to female criminality e.g low status jobs
Utter et al statistics:
between 1950 and 1990 ratio of male to female crime has decreased from 11:1 to 4:1
Outline Paragraph 5 (media)
- media representations - perpetuates official statistics and patriarchal values (Evans, 2012)
- demonising female criminals (Grabbe et al, 2006) - e.g Maxine Carr and Amanda Knox
- Cooper and Rafety (2011) - Knox “crucified” by media
- Gwynn: female criminals often viewed as a threat to society
Outline Paragraph 6 (statistics)
- official statistics are inaccurate
- Gibbons (1982) “unreliable” “questionable social facts”
- Adler and Worrall - underrepresent female offending
Outline Paragraph 4 (biology)
- biology
- Pollack (1950) - females are more criminal as they are deceitful and can hide pain
- criticised for being sexist, limited, outdated
- gender blind: perpetuates stereotypes
- if this were true, why don’t more females commit crime when on their periods? Also, official statistics would no doubt show female crime rates to be higher
who claims that women commit less serious offences?
Graham and Bowling, 1995
who claims that female criminals offend “moral and social values and roles”?
Frigon (1995)
Who claims that the media demonises female criminals?
Grabbe et al, 2006
Who claims that Amanda Knox was “crucified” by media?
Cooper and Rafety (2011)
Who claims that female criminals often viewed as a threat to society?
Gwynn
