Gender, Crime and Justice Flashcards
What are two differences between male and female crime?
- amount of crimes committed
- severity of the crimes committed
What are two reasons for statistics underestimating female crime?
- Typical female crimes are less likely to be reported (shoplifting)
- less likely to be prosecuted or if so let off lightly
What percent of crime is committed by males in England and Wales?
80%
By age 40 what percent of males have committed a crime? What percent of females?
32%
9%
Who are more likely to commit property offences (excluding burglary)? Who are more likely to commit violent crimes?
Females
Males
How many more times are men likely to be convicted of a crime than women?
15x
What do some sociologists argue about official statistics regarding female crime?
It underestimated the amount of female crime when compared to male crime
Who came up with the Chivalry thesis? What is it?
- Otto Pollack
- Most criminal justice agents are men and have been socialized to act in a ‘chivalrous’ way to women therefore are more lenient to their crimes
What does Chivalrous mean?
To be kind and respectful to women
What did self report studies show in regards to female offenders?
That female offenders are treated more leniently than male offenders
What did Graham and Bowling’s study find when researching 14-25 year old’s?
That males were 2.3 times more likely to admit to having committed an offence, whereas official statistics show males are 4 times more likely to offend than women
How can official statistics support the chivalry thesis?
- Females are more likely to be released on bail
- Women receive shorter prison sentences
- Women more likely to receive a fine over prison
How many women receive a prison sentence? How many men?
- 1/9
- 1/5
What did Roger Hood find in a study of over 3000 defendants?
Women were 1/3 less likely to be jailed
What did Box’s study of UK and US self report studies find?
That women who commit serious offences are NOT treated favorably
Who are more likely to report binge drinking and taking illegal drugs in self report studies?
Males
What did Yearnshire find?
That it took women 35 assaults before reporting domestic violence
Why do Feminist’s say the criminal justice system is biased AGAINST them?
The courts treat females more harshly than males when they deviate from gender norms - It is patriarchal
What are two examples of women being treated more harshly than men because they deviate from gender norms?
Double Standards - courts punish girls but not boys for premature sexual activity
Women who don’t confirm to monogamous heterosexuality and motherhood are punished more harshly
What did Judge Wild say about women?
‘Women who say no do not always mean no. It is not just a question of how she says it, how she shows and makes it clear. If she doesn’t it she only has to keep her legs shut’
What is some evidence that crime is biological?
Men produce more testosterone making them more violent
